Interior Design Best of Year Product Finalist :: OFURO by RAPSEL

RAPSEL is being honored as a finalist for the 2010 Best of Year Awards.

The Matteo Thun custom designed soaking tub ‘Ofuro’ was nominated in the Bath::Fixtures category.

Interior Design will be hosting the awards ceremony at the IAC Building on the evening of Thursday, December 2nd where the “Best of Year” for each category will be announced.

Crystalline by Hariri & Hariri featured in Architect’s Newspaper

The venerable Architect’s Newspaper profiles ‘Crystalline’ a prototyped, new bath collection designed by Hariri & Hariri. The tub and sink designs are made in a super light resin with fixtures embedded with Swarovski crystals. Both products debuted at this year’s ICFF, with appearances by the design-duo Hariri sisters at the AFNY hosted tradeshow exhibit.

A good soak – elegantly designed wood tub invites a plunge

CHICAGO TRIBUNE – HOME

The Ofuro wooden tub from Rapsel is $28,000.

By Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz, Tribune newspapers

May 10, 2010

Taking a cue from the Japanese, who for centuries have heralded the healing powers of a good soak in a wooden tub, Italian design firm Rapsel this year launched an all-wood bathtub with the eye-popping price of $28,000.

The Ofuro tub is “more than just a bathing vessel,” said Bennett Friedman, principal at kitchen and bath retailer AF New York, which carries Rapsel’s Ofuro. “It’s for wellness, not hygiene. You get the sense of relaxation but in a device, in a sphere that is beautiful.”

Made of Siberian Larch wood harvested from trees that are 300 to 400 years old, the Ofuro tub is different from many other wooden bathtubs because it doesn’t rely on resins, glues and sealants to keep water from damaging the wood. Siberian Larch is naturally water- and decay-resistant, and the tub wears in rather than wears out, Friedman said.

Designed by celebrated Italian architect and product designer Matteo Thun, the Ofuro won this year’s Wallpaper* Design Award for best bath.

Rapsel Debuts Crystalline at ICFF 2010 with Hariri & Hariri, AFNY

Visit the Rapsel exhibit with AF New York at booth 1218 to see the exciting debut of Crystalline, Chef and Ofuro Collections at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, to be held at the Javits Convention Center in New York May 15-17, 2010.

Special booksigning event by invitation to take place with Hariri Architecture, Sunday, May 16, 2010 12 Noon

For more information contact: courtney@gothampr.com, tel: 212.352.2147

Rapsel Debuts New Designs & Three Events at Salone del Mobile

Design press visiting Salone del Mobile this year are in for a treat:

Iconic Italian design firm Rapsel will hold 3 exhibits in various locations throughout the city to celebrate the fair.

New custom designs for RAPSEL will be on exhibit at the main fair pavilion (D23-D27) as well as in Zona Tortona via Savona 54.

For special event invitations to the Wallpaper* and private chef dinner & design events offsite, please contact Courtney Lukitsch at Gotham Public Relations 212.352.2147 or Courtney@GothamPR.com.

At exhibits in Milan, please contact Suzanne Schwarz via schwarz.pr@bluewin.ch or RSVP to events via pr@rapsel.it

Rapsel Ofuro in DETAILS Magazine – April 2010

Design editor Monica Khemsurov does some reporting on Rapsel’s award-winning Ofuro bath basin in Conde Nast’s April 2010 issue of DETAILS Magazine

Ofuro is available by custom-order sales at AF New York http://www.afnewyork.com.

Ofuro was designed by Milan-based Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez http://www.matteothun.com

Rapsel in New York

Meet Milan-based Rapsel founder and principal Aldo Provini this week in New York. For appointments, contact AF New York http://www.afnewyork.com or Gabrielle Rosemond, Director of Marketing and Communications (gabrieller@afnewyork.com)

Rapsel This Week at Maison & Objet

Visit the Rapsel exhibit today at the last day of Maison & Objet in Paris. Ask to meet Milanese founder and principal Aldo Provini. Rapsel products are sold in the USA exclusively at AF New York http://www.afnewyork.com

Rapsel Wins GOOD DESIGN AWARD for One and Arne

Rapsel of Milan starts the new year right by winning ongoing accolades for the company’s iconic bath designs. One Collection by Matteo Thun took home yet another award from Good Design, after winning Interior Design’s Best of Year Product Award at the Guggenheim (Thun is also a Hall of Famer). Another prestigious Good Design prize was granted to Arne, the beautiful tub created by husband and wife design team SODA based in Austria. Both award-winning Rapsel products are sold at AFNY in New York http://www.afnewyork.com.

Rapsel at Zolotas

We have great photos of Rapsel’s debut at the Zolotas showroom in the greater Boston area as part of “The Collection”. The ribbon-cutting will be next Thursday, August 6th: