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Philipp Mainzer is a German architect and product designer known for establishing the furniture company e15 and as well as his simplistic and at the same time unique style.
Having established the progressive, enduring philosophy and unique branding of e15, he has received international awards for many of his designs, which are identifying icons for e15 and part of several permanent exhibitions in museums.
See also: Top Interior Designers| Kirill Istomin
Born in Germany on 23 of October 1969, Philipp Mainzer studied product design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, and architecture at the Architectural Association both in London. In 1995 Philipp Mainzer co-founded with Florian Asche the modern furniture brand e15. Named after the postcode of the East London Borough of Hackney, where was Mainzer’s first studio was located, the company was mainly known for the solid wood table Bigfoot and the stool molar. Both pieces of furniture have now become design classics. Parallel to the creation of e15, Philipp Mainzer practiced architecture in New York and continues to do so since his return to Germany in 2001.
Since 2004 Philipp Mainzer started to work with shop interior and improved the interior of the Hamburg fashion label Closed’s shop. In 2013 he created a interior for Paros flagship stores of Inter Alia.In the mean time he realized Mainzer’s architectural office and other commercial and residential projects worldwide. Now he is a member of the executive committee of German Design Council and regularly gives lectures on architecture, design and branding.
The Projects
Today Philipp Mainzer is a creative director and managing director of Philipp Mainzer Office for Architecture and Design and for the e15 Design and Distributions. He keeps companies’ iconic name by creating a unique yet minimalistic furniture.
Interior design
CLOSED, MUNICH
For the international fashion label Closed Philipp Mainzer Office for Architecture and Design redesigned the brand’s womens and mens store in Munich. The 153 sqm store is divided into an autonomous male and female space, architecturally separated by a passage running through both areas.
CLOSED, COLOGNE
Philipp Mainzer Office for Architecture and Design completed a new store in Cologne for international fashion label Closed. As a continuation of the close and ongoing collaboration between the two companies since 2004, the interior design of the new store continues with the specially developed corporate architecture of the fashion brand however showcasing a unique artistic approach.
Architecture
ONE H, SEOUL
Philipp Mainzer Office for Architecture and Design won the façade design competition for a multi-storey building in Seoul, South Korea. Situated near the bank of the river Hangang, metal-framed windows pierce the textured limestone façade, giving the building a particularly modern and unique look. The bronze-finished metal elements correspond with the colour of the limestone, creating a harmonious yet dynamic look.
APEX
Philipp Mainzer has been appointed with the design of a 3000 sqm two storey office building for Taiwanese battery manufacturer Apex in Yancheng, China. The appointment by Apex also includes the interior design of the new building as well as masterplanning of the 9300 sqm surrounding area, adjoining the factory site.
Furniture
E15 ACCESSORIES
E15 LIVING II
In a desire to combine contemporary design with oriental traditions the new e15 Living products emerged with the design of the side tables CM05 HABIBI and CT08 VIER. Complimented by the side tables the low platforms and cushions of SF03 SHIRAZ are used to create the perfect settings for social and relaxing environments.
There two the most famous projects of Philipp Mainzer: AESOP shop design and STÄHLEMÜHLE – transformation of old German mill.
The Aesop store recently opened in Frankfurt had turned to designer and architect Philipp Mainzer to develop their project. Taking inspiration from the city’s modernist and cultural roots, the color palette was developed to evoke the forest green of the German landscape whilst the floor is created using matte grey ceramic tiles that reference the salt-glazed ‘Bembel’ stoneware typical of the local region. Elsewhere the simple beauty of raw materials is celebrated; Mainzer’s office say the aim was to create an environment where ‘The architecture focuses on the product rather than competing with it. Back-lit shelves in forest green float along the pale green-grey walls, generating a natural and complementing environment that supports the central element of the store, which is a monolithic solid walnut structure integrating a multi-purpose sink in raw brass’.
Talking about the old mill project in Eigeltingen, Southern Germany, it was transformed into a working distillery complete with tasting areas and a showroom for award-winning spirits producer Stählemühle. Behind the rustic doors of the old Stählemühle mill now lie sleek, dramatically lit minimal rooms with exposed concrete walls and simple wood furnishings. Mainzer describes his creative intent as seeking to put “specified traditional materials in a modern context” – he incorporated industrial materials that contrast with the polished finish of the large, elegant copper distillation machine. The custom-made wooden furniture pieces throughout the space were crafted by design firm e15.The incredible transformation of the space, accompanied by Keller’s purist, organic approach to the production of alcohol is perhaps marred only by some of the choices in building materials — the minimal industrial floors are made from asphalt.
Under the brand e15 Mainzer sells furniture by renowned designers. So here are works done by Stefan Diez, Arik Levy and others who are included in the collection. In 2012, twelve selected furniture by Ferdinand Kramer were included in a re-edition and has since been sold. The collection included such furniture as Cypress green mohair ‘Weissenhof’ lounge chair (originally designed in 1926), solid walnut leather ‘Aswan’ stool and ‘Karnak’ chair (both from 1925).
See also – Top Interior Designers | Marcel Wanders
Philipp Mainzer in the top list not without a reason, he is well recognized internationally. Let’s check out his awards:
Interior Innovation Award Cologne for the table Ten (2011)
Interior Innovation Award Cologne for the bed Pardis (2008)
Design Award Germany for the sofa system Shiraz (2008)
Interior Innovation Award Cologne for the sofa system Shiraz (2008)
Design for Asia Award for the interior design of the Xue Xue Institute in Taipei, Taiwan (2007)
Interior Innovation Award for the table Bigfoot (2006)
Red Dot Award for the e15 office furniture (2006)
International Contemporary Furniture Fair New York Award for New Places bathroom collection (2006).
