H-Horse: Nendo Rocking horse for Kartell – Photos by Akihiro Yoshida – courtesy of Nendo.
Milan 2016 – From the side it looks like traditional rocking horse. But as you move around it the shape of an I or H becomes very distinguishable. H-Horse by Japanese design studio Nendo for Kartell was inspired by I -or H- shaped beams that are generally used to support large architectural structures like bridges and skyscrapers.
Indeed, the main body of the rocking horse coincides with a section of a curved transparent I-beam: lager on the base and shorter on the seal. The horse’s head comes as a flat and curved exptesion of the seal.
I or H beams are architectural strongest units that are literally shaped like an I or H when seen in cross-section. This characteristic that gives the structure its mechanical strength. “By applying this concept directly to a child’s rocking horse, a form has been created that displays both function and strength even with minimum use of materials” say at Nendo.
“Transforming the use of this practical component into a different use with a sense of playfulness is the design process traceable to the history of the Kartell company” says Oki Sato, founder of Nendo.
Founded in 1949, Kartell began by manufacturing and selling highly functional laboratory equipment. The prominent Italian design brand contributed to upgrade the aestetic of plastic from mere industrial material to eclectic ingredient for quality design.
RELATED STORY: Read more Nendo architecture and design projects on ArchiPanic.
Photos by Akihiro Yoshida – Courtesy of Nendo.
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Image by Nendo.
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