Studio Makkink&Bey

Studio Makkink & Bey and Piasa Paris have joined forces to realise a grand auction of unique pieces, prototypes and limited edition objects of the studio on Thursday 19 October 2017 in Paris. The warehouse of the Dutch contemporary design practice is reorganised in order for a new, self-initiated project to arise in addition to their ongoing product-, interior- and exhibition design projects. "I remember spring cleanings at my family's house when I was a child. My mom moved everything literally out of the house into the garden; we cleaned everything thoroughly, all walls were redecorated, the carpets shampooed. This was also the time we were to refurbish the house completely. Together we would decide which pieces of furniture would stay or go and where to put it. It felt like a completely new home, giving new ideas and headspace at the very same time", founder Rianne Makkink says. "After the founding of our studio in 2002 we felt like doing the same in our workspace", founder Jurgen Bey continues. "We have kept artists proofs, first edition pieces and prototypes for years. Some of these pieces already ended up in museums and private collections. Some of them were placed in our home, some remained in our studio, meanwhile shaping our life and work. A lot of pieces were carefully stored in our warehouse, but it now feels they need new owners as we develop our practice towards new grounds". By sorting the warehouse and bringing over 60 objects to a grand auction the studio is making space for the new ideals the team wants to unfold from the beginning of 2018. A part of the Rotterdam based workspace will be programmed into an environment for the development of a self-initiated project titled 'WaterSchool'. Education being one of the consistent theme's in the studio - currently with Rianne Makkink involved in the Design Academy Eindhoven Social Design Masters department and Jurgen Bey as director of the Sandberg Institute Amsterdam, Masters of Applied Arts and some of their studio members as visiting tutors in ...