Studio Johanna Seelemann
Studio Johanna Seelemann

Design studio exploring the mystification of everyday objects and materials in our environment, and their contexts.

The studio works on a wide range of typologies, from designed products to research-driven installations.


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2024    —    Micrographia



Micrographia raises a pivotal question: How can we design urban products that benefit humans and multiple species at the same time? The designer's approach aligns with recent insights in the sciences related to ecology, viewing cities as a refuge for wildlife and habitat capable of actively protecting biodiversity. The concept highlights the urgency to redefine the idea of “inclusive design” from a more-than-anthropocentric perspective and to design products with greater awareness of current changes. Carefully designed as urban interventions, the objects utilise mineral materials such as a newly developed geopolymer, earth and terracotta clay, blending functionality with narrative aesthetics, defining a distinct, more industrial trajectory for Studio Johanna Seelemann.

Considering cities as biodiversity protection, involves the need for creating proper nesting and foraging habitats. Providing those through the Habitat Façade elements, the Studio developed two versions, inhabitable both for wild insects or birds. Enzo Mari’s famous Milanese Panettone concrete bollards are reinterpreted using local clays and native plant seeds, which can be either used as paperweights or thrown into urban spaces around Milan as seed bombs, which, when blooming, will become pollinator food.

While the elements shown in the exhibition may seem sculptural at first glance, they unveil a deliberate purpose upon closer examination. The Oase vases employ an ancient irrigation system to minimise water loss in cities on one hand. The light-coloured low-fired terracotta vases with lids are buried beside plants to efficiently deliver water directly to their roots thanks to the semi-permeable material. Conversely, the darker high-fired and internally glazed objects are transformed into traditional vases. Studio Johanna Seelemann's approach seamlessly oscillates between contextual exploration and commercial applications, strategically positioning the designer to strike a balance between ecological considerations and tangible proposals.

For the occasion of the 2024 Salone del Mobile, Studio Johanna Seelemann was invited by Park Associati to develop a project in their Milanese venue. Sharing with the designer an experimental approach to design and the urgency to tackle significant research topics, Park Associati is committed to supporting emerging designers by coordinating production and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration with a network of local professionals.
Concept, Design

Johanna Seelemann

Coordination

Costanza Nizzi


Technical Sponsors

Ricehouse, Arche3D, Primat


Scientific Support

Vivaio Bicocca


Special Thanks

Gustavo Gandini, MAKK Cologne, Eric Maget, Susann Paduch, Marco Sorrentino, Federica Arici, Marianna Merisi, Francesca Pellizzaro, Ester Pirotta


Studio Team

Gigi Totaro, Marc Goldbach, Lara Erdmann, Laurin Böhm


Picture Credits

Nicola Colella

Exhibition

︎︎︎ ‘Micrographia - Redesign for Biodiversity’, Park Associati Hub, Salone del Mobile, Milan, 2024


Context
Milan Design Week 2024
Park Associati Hub 





Design Studio
Johanna Seelemann

Leipzig (DE) — Reykjavík (IS)
Hauptstrasse IX
DE-04416 Markkleeberg
 
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