Geographically, the selected recipients for 2009 “Europe 40 Under 40®” hail from across 19 European nations: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Slovania, Spain, and Switzerland—the best of the young best of Europe.

The “Europe 40 Under 40” program is sponsored by KONE Oyj.
An exhibition of work by the 2009 Laureates opens at Contemporary Space Athens (46-48 Megalou Vassiliou, Rouf-Athens, Greece) on Wednesday, September 16 and continues through November 1. A more formal exhibition and presentation takes place at the symposium, “The City and the World,” in Florence, Italy the second week of November 2009.

The 2009 “Europe 40 Under 40” Laureates are:

AUSTRIA
• Josef Saller, Architect, heri & salli, Vienna, Austria
• Herbert Wolfmayr, Architect, heri & salli, Vienna, Austria
BELGIUM
• Frederik Aerts, Industrial Designer, Berghoff Worldwide, Heusden-Zolder, Belgium
• Thomas Bercy, Architect, Bercy Chen Studio LP., Austin, Texas, USA
• Wim Goes, Architect, Wim Goes Architectuur, Gent, Belgium
• Pieter Jan Deblauwe, Industrial Designer, Brussels, Belgium
DENMARK
• Thomas Brinch-Møller, Architect, DOK54, Jordup, Denmark
• Anders Lendager, Architect, MAPT., Nørrebro, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Jacob M. Lund, Architect, DOK54, Jordup, Denmark
FINLAND
• Olli Komulaninen, Industrial Designer, Polar Electro Oy., Kempele, Finland
• Illka Suppanen, Architect and Industrial Designer, Studio Suppanen, Helsinki, Finland
FRANCE
• Charles Bessard, Architect, Powerhouse Company, Copenhagen, Denmark
GERMANY
• Alain Berteau, Architect and Industrial Designer, Alain Berteau Designworks, Brussels, Belgium
• Jens Bruenslow, Architect, Architecture Project, Valletta, Malta
• Kati Meyer-Brühl, Industrial Designer, Brühl & Sippold GmbH., Bad Steven, Germany
• Holger Kehne, Architect, Plasma Studio, London, Great Britain
• Claudia Schmidt, Architect, MIR Architecten, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Timm Schönberg, Industrial Designer, Kraus Schönberg, Konstanz, Germany and London, Great Britain
• Alexander Tränkle, Industrial Designer, Alexander Tränkle, Langenargen, Germany
• Constantine Wortmann, Industrial Designer, Büro für Form Designstudio, Munich, Germany
GREAT BRITAIN
• Simon Frommenwiler, Architect, HHF Architects GmbH., Basel, Switzerland
• Morten Villiers Warren, Industrial Designer, Native Design Ltd., London
GREECE
• Panos Parthenios, Architect, Parthenios Architects + Associates, Athens, Greece
ICELAND
• Erla Dögg Ingjaldsdótir, Architect, Minarc, Santa Monica, California, USA
ITALY
• Federico Bargone, Architect, Sbarch Associates, Rome and Folgno, Umbria, Italy
• Francesco Bartolucci, Architect, Sbarch Associates, Rome and Folgno, Umbria, Italy
• Franco Cervi, Industrial Designer, 27_9, Milan, Italy
• Alessandro Console, Architect, Console/Oliva Architects, Rome, Italy
• Francesco Iodice, Architect, IODICEARCHETTI, Aversa, Italy
• Daniele Lago, Industrial Designer, Lago SpA., San Giorgio in Bosco (Padova), Italy
• Orsola Pezone, Architect, IODICEARCHETTI, Aversa, Italy
• Marcello Silverstre, Architect, IODICEARCHETTI, Aversa, Italy
LATVIA
• Juris Mitenbergs, Architect, AB3D Ltd., Riga, Latvia
THE NETHERLANDS
• Nanne de Ru, Architect, Powerhouse Company, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
• Frederike Top, Industrial Designer, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• Ronald Schleurholts, Architect, Architectenbureau Cepezed, Delft, The Netherlands
NORWAY
• Petter Knudsen, Industrial Designer, Petter Knudsen Design, Bergan, Norway
• Leif Steven Verdu-Isachsen, Industrial Designer, KODE Design AS., Oslo, Norway
POLAND
• Beata Goczol, Architect, Goczolowie Architekti Studio, Zabrze, Poland
• Barbara Grabczewska, Ovo Grabczewscy Architekci, Kracow, Poland
• Oskar Grabczewski, Ovo Grabczewscy Architekci, Kracow, Poland
• Marcin Kościuch, Architect, Ultra Architects SC., Poznań, Poland
• Tomasz Osięgłowski, Architect, Ultra Architects SC., Poznań, Poland
• Anna Siedlecka, Industrial Design, Studio Puff-Buff Design SC., Warsaw, Poland
PORTUGAL
• Camilo Rebelo, Architect, Camilo Rebelo Arquitecto Uniperssoal Lta., Porto, Portugal
SERBIA
• Branko Lukic, Industrial Designer, NONPROJECT, Palo Alto, California, USA
SLOVANIA
• Aljosa Dekleva, Architect, Dekleva Gregoric Arhitekti, Ljubljana, Slovania
• Tina Gregoric, Architect, Dekleva Gregoric Arhitekti, Ljubljana, Slovania
SPAIN
• Raul del Valle González, Architect, Maquinas Para Vivir, SL., Madrid, Spain
• Luis Suárez Mansilla, Architect, Suárez Santas Arquitectos, Bilboa, Spain
• Pablo Oriol, Architect, FRO-Rodriguez y Oriol Arquitectos, Madrid, Spain
• Fernando Rodriguez, Architect, FRO-Rodriguez y Oriol Arquitectos, Madrid, Spain
• Asier Santas Torres, Architect, Suárez Santas Arquitectos, Bilboa, Spain
SWITZERLAND
• Simon Hartmann, Architect, HHF Architects GmbH., Basel, Switzerland
• Tilo Herlach, Architect, HHF Architects GmbH., Basel, Switzerland
• Pascal Müller, Architect, Müller Sigrist Architects, Zurich, Switzerland
• Tanya Ruegg, Architect, Camenzind Evolution Architects, Zurich, Switzerland
• Peter Sigrist, Architect, Müller Sigrist Architects, Zurich, Switzerland
• Claude Zelleweger, Industrial Designer, One & Company, San Francisco, California, USA

The “Europe 40 Under 40” program was initiated by The European Centre and The Chicago Athenaeum to spotlight and identify the next generation of European architects and design professionals who will impact future living and working environments, cities, and rural areas in Europe and around the world.

Presented annually, the program is open to all young European architects, landscape architects, urban planners,dustrial designers, graphic designers, and fasion and textile designers who are under the age of 40 who are working independently or in a firm or on a specific project where they are the lead designer.

In 2008, hundreds of architecture and design submissions for 2009 were received by The European Centre from across Europe (both Members States of the European Community and Accession States). “The jury selection and process was extremely difficult,” states Ioannis Karalias, Museum Vice President, The Chicago Athenaeum. “The jury was presented with hundreds of excellent projects and designs from skyscrapers and large-scale urban planning projects to the highest quality industrial design for commercial and consumer use. It was difficult to narrow the number down to simply 40 design firms (60 designers and partners of design firms in total).”
In the category of architecture, projects by the selected architects included corporate architecture, skyscrapers, institutional projects, religious buildings, civil and political structures, planning projects, urban renewal, restoration/renovation projects, sports and transportation centres, institutions, parks, monuments, and public environments.
In the category of industrial design, the latest products for furniture, lighting, household items, and bathroom and kitchen fixtures.
Projects were judged on the merit of design innovation with the emphasis on pushing the envelope on conventional methods and exploring new ideas, theories, and approaches to contemporary design.

The Chicago jury of distinguished architecture and design practitioners included:
• Brian Douglas Lee, Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago
• Mark P. Sexton, Principal, Krueck & Sexton Architects, Chicago
• Richard Tomlinson, Partner, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Chicago
• Christian K. Narkiewicz-Laine, President, The Chicago Athenaeum

The program is organized by Kieran Conlon, Director/COO, The European Centre and Lary L. Sommers, Director of Administration/Marketing, The Chicago Athenaeum.
“The success of this program, in identifying Europe’s most prominent emerging design talent, attests to the continuing strength of contemporary design in Europe today,” states Mr. Conlon. “The key,” he continues, “is to bring wider recogition to these 40 most promising architects and designers working in the European Union and other countries inside Europe, fostering and encouraging new talent and new creative thinking at the forefront of the profession today.”

Information about the winning architects and designers together with their works can be found at The European Centre’s website: www.europeanarch.eu.

The winner of the Formland Design Award, Josefine Bentzen, was overwhelmed when she received the award during the opening of Formland Autumn 2009 on Friday at MCH Messecenter Herning. The design award was presented to the designer and the ToddlerCompany for a new and modern version of children’s cutlery, which focuses on comfort, functionality and play.

- Winning the Formland Design Award is a great honour. We are here at the Formland fair for the first time and it is here that we begin marketing of our children’s cutlery. We could not have got off to a better start, says Josefine Bentzen, who was presented with the award by the Director of the Danish Design Association, Gitte Just.

Design recognition in 2003

The idea for the product came in 2003, when Josefine Bentzen created children’s cutlery as a study project at the Danish Design School in Copenhagen. In the same year the project was shown at the Formland fair, where it came first in the DesignSpot competition for young design students.

- The children’s cutlery looked a lot different back then, not like it does today. But the idea was the same. To create a product, which makes everyday life easier for families with young children, says Josefine Bentzen.

After Formland the idea was returned to the drawer – and five years would go by before it was taken up again. Josefine Bentzen has spent the past year working on functionality, form and design in cooperation with Fabrikators, who are the company behind ToddlerCompany. Production is now ready to begin in Skive – and from 1 November the product will be shipped to both Danish and foreign stores.

Launch in 30 countries

- ToddlerTable Cutlery is being launched in more than 30 countries around the world and we are expecting a great deal of our children’s cutlery. It has been really well received so far. Japan in particular has been really interested in the product. Now we have won a design award in Denmark and are moreover nominated for an innovation award in Germany, says Peter Andersen, partner in ToddlerCompany.

ToddlerTable Cutlery consists of a knife, fork and spoon in four fashionable colours – orange, blue, green and red. The cutlery is aimed at toddlers and small children above the age of six months. The recommended retail price is DKK 299. From spring 2010 the series will be expanded. ToddlerTable Cutlery will also offer a cup, plate and bowl in the same colours and design.

ToddlerTable Cutlery is designed by Josefine Bentzen. The designer has placed emphasis on creating cutlery that supports the children’s development of motor skills. The cutlery was designed on the basis of the special way children grasp things. The Scandinavian Award Committee who are responsible for the choice of winner gave the following reasons:

“This is the child’s own cutlery. The design is good with a handle that fills the whole hand. The design, combined with an anti-slide material on the handle, means that the child has a good grip on the cutlery, which can quickly help to make eating themselves a good experience. The colours are spot on and the expression is unique. The cutlery is playful, practical and very attractive – it looks good on a well-laid table. And it is also made of environmentally friendly material. A new, obvious idea for a christening present.

The recommended retail price for ToddlerTable Cutlery is DKK 299. The children’s cutlery can be seen at stand C2710 at the Formland Fair.

The other nominees for the Formland Design Award were EGO with a bamboo collection, Eva Denmark with Eva Trio kitchenware, PK Design – Design House Stockholm with the Arrow hook and Hornvarefabrikken with the Anines vases. A total of 70 products were submitted for judging at the Formland Design Award – Autumn 2009.

Bamboo in a new design

Aarhus company EGO is nominated for Formland Design Award – Autumn 2009 for a collection of table items in bamboo. The company has launched an environmentally friendly production, the bamboo fiber is made into modern design products.

The uniqueness of EGO’s offering is to use bamboo in a new and different way. The result is a smart collection that has beautiful lines and forms – and is faithful to the natural color of the material. At the same time, thinking of the environment, the products are 100% degradable in nature after only 8-10 months, says the nomination committee.

EGO Bamboo Collection was designed by Steffen Schmelling whose targets have gone after the environmentally friendly production as replacements for melanin or plastic. The solution is found in bamboo-fiber, which has a natural binder in it. The collection contains several parts. The indicative retail price is from $ 149 to $ 349 sætvis.

In cooperation with a French technology company Stelton has developed an entirely new technology for this espresso machine. The result is the smallest, electric, battery-powered espresso machine in the world which of course has the required pressure of 16 bar (ATW) the exactly same capacity as the larger and far more expensive machines.

Simply espresso is a smart device, easy to find space for in a kitchen, summer house or even a boat. This is a simple way of making espresso without compromising the good taste.

Simple and quick – Simply espresso

Design: Nielsen Innovation

Materials – stainless steel and plastic
Width – ø 8 cm
Heigth – 23 cm

The “Crash” bin is owned by a London Gallery but will be visiting MoMA as a part of the exhibition “Ron Arad: No Discipline”.

The milk frother works so well that you can use low fat milk and still get the thick creamy froth, which is a must for your cappuccino, caffé latte or café au lait.

Design: Niels Kjeldsen
Materials – stainless steel and plastics
Width – 6 cm
Heigth – 15 cm

Functional kitchen tool in a retro design

Eva Denmark A / S has developed a new series of kitchen tools in stylish and multifunctional designs. The tools can be used for cooking and serving, as they are produced in durable and low-impact materials. The series is nominated for Formland Design Award – Autumn 2009.

The series of kitchen tools have a delicious and harmonious form. The different tools are good because of the silicone rubber, bearing the stainless steel – and they are light together. The style is retro from the 50s where it was the norm to use as little material as possible. The same goes for this series, developed nice and simple, says price the Committee in its nomination.

Todd Brachet has designed the series of 16 tools for Eva Denmark A / S. The materials used are stainless steel and black silicone rubber, bearing different, so individual material properties are maximized. There is emphasis on providing the tools with a good grip, protecting hands from heat, and making them gentle for use in pots and pans. The series includes with and without silicone coating, skimmer, pizza cutter, salad servers and scraper. The indicative retail price goes from DKK 149.75 to DKK 199.75.

Cool Coat, Menu’s creative wine cooler, lives up to its name. It is really cool! A fully innovative, ingenious alternative to the traditional wine cooler with ice that leaves melted water on the table every time you take the bottle out of the bucket.

Cool Coat is the invention of designer Jakob Wagner, who is also the man behind many of the items in Menu’s Vignon series, which consists of an array of accessories for handling, storing and serving wine. Cool Coat consists of two layers of textiles and a loose wrap sewn with channels filled with cooling gel. You just have to put the wrap in the freezer for some time and then put it back in the coat and give the bottle its cold apparel. After just 15 minutes, the temperature of the wine will be reduced by about 10°C and the chilled wine can be poured into glasses while the remains in the bottle will stay fresh in the coat-clad bottle – without dripping on the table.

Cool Coat comes in black with a grey wrap and a new white version with black or lime wrap and push button. “The coat fits most bottles, and you can adjust the collar as you like to give Cool Coat its own personalised touch,” says designer Jakob Wagner.

Design: Jakob Wagner
Materials: Textiles, plastic, metal push button, cooling gel

Design: Klaus Rath

Content – 1 litre
Materials – stainless steel, plastic, glass and fabric
Width – ø 11,5 cm
Heigth – 18,5 cm