Totora Furniture at Maison & Objet 2013

Juan Fernando Hidalgo Cordero's designs embody the juncture of modernity and tradition

by Dora Haller Totora is a thick, hollow grass that grows along lakeshores high in South America’s Andes Mountains. This indigenous plant has been used for generations to build everything from houses to floors, hats and even boats. Ecuadorian architect and designer Juan Fernando Hidalgo Cordero identified the astounding versatility of the material and imaginatively expanded its usage—by creating furniture with it. CH met with …

Take What You Can’t Get

The history of the '70s heist genre and a re-imagining of “The Incident”

Sponsored content: by Chris Diken of Vimeo In conjunction with Vanity Fair and Film Independent, The Lincoln Motor Company tapped filmmaking duo David Ariniello and Nick Citton to re-imagine the classic ’70s heist genre. “The Incident” is the story of two friends on the run after a bank robbery—and they just might get away with it. Along with the film, here is a historical exploration …

Traveler Zita at Maison & Objet 2013

The perfect travel companion for herbal tea enthusiasts

by Dora Haller With special focus on kitchen utilities, this autumn’s Maison & Objet—the Parisian design trade show which ran from 6-10 September—offered simple innovations alongside more decadent wares. CH enthusiastically trawled through the vast array on display and found the Traveler Zita by environmentally responsible brand Finum to be a standout. For drinkers of fresh herbal tea, Traveler Zita is the ideal companion when …