my design utopia.: faema e61

Friday, May 30, 2008

faema e61

Fabbrica Apparecchiature`ElettroMeccaniche e Affini

In 1961 Faema wrote an important chapter in the history of espresso machines when they released the E61 with its internal pump to regulate pressure at approximately 9 bar to produce 'perfect' espresso. The E61 was also relatively laden with other features, but it is arguably one of the best looking automatic espresso machines ever built.

Whether an individual was responsible for the design or not is unclear, but it is certainly the machine's aesthetic that is responsible for its sustained popularity as in 45+ years since its inception better machines have come and gone and it is still a popular machine for commercial and domestic use and is seeing restoration by coffee enthusiasts all over the world. The E61 is quite possibly the most collectable espresso machine on the planet and it is easy to see why.

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in my design utopia...

design v.t 1. to plan or fashion artistically or skillfully 2. to intend for a definitive purpose 4. to form or conceive in the mind.

My design utopia is a collection of my favorite designs; architectural, industrial and automotive, and of the people who created them.

Good design makes life easier, by virtue of easing the interaction between the human being and the 'machine'. My favourite designs are sometimes evocative of the era they came from, legendary by virtue of having timeless appeal or simply functional beyond any measure or test, making them the best possible interface for their user to achieve what they set out to use them for.

These designs are a celebration of the times when designs were more often the work of an individual rather than that of a committee, when designs weren't meant to appeal to the entire population - when designs lasted and were only adjusted for development rather than scrapped.

In my utopia, day to day life is made a joy via the utilisation of perfectly designed appliances and objects, inhabitation of beautiful and functional buildings with pleasant and minimal interiors, commuting using well proportioned and appropriately detailed automobiles with a tangible measure for enjoyment.

The most important concept to remember is that without a purpose, there can be no design or at least, no purpose for any design. Giugiaro said; "it wasn't an architect or a designer who invented objects, but an artisan"

Please enjoy my collection and writing.