The Frozen Fountain
Though some might say that you can’t buy good taste, Cok de Rooy has built a career out of doing just that. He refined his design sensibilities as a buyer for big brands like Liberty of London, and in 1992, he and his business partner, Dick Dankers, opened the Frozen Fountain in Amsterdam. Today the Dutch design shop is renowned for showcasing both homegrown and international talents, hosting twice-yearly exhibitions, and rotating original art and prototypes among its curated wares for purchase.
What’s best about your job?
The most fun element for me is meeting and talking with young designers. The new generation is very optimistic—yet serious and well aware of their talents—–and always thinking about inventing new solutions for the future.
Furniture from Nani Marquina, Vitra, Piet Hein Eek, and Foscarini, are found inside the Frozen Fountain.
What makes you wish you did something else?
Nothing. In another life, I think I’d want to be an architect, playing with space, material, and balance. But now, this is exactly what I want to do.
Grandmother's Treasures Tea Set by Vika Mitrachenka for the Frozen Fountain.
How do you define “good design”?
A well-designed item communicates precisely what it was made for. Good designers and artists must be original, curious, and autonomous.
What’s your most recent purchase?
A small black-and-white photo of a bottle, teapot, and saucer. It’s marvelous: completely quiet and very tasteful.
Shippolady by Hella Jongerius for Cïbone Collection.
Is there anything you are embarrassed to love?
My girlfriend once bought a little statue of Marilyn Monroe for a dollar from a market in Italy. It was 100 percent kitsch, and I thought, My goodness. Then it broke, and I found myself spending a whole evening gluing it back together. It was so funny, back from a thousand pieces. I loved it.
Is there an object that changed how you think about design?
I’m not a designer, and I’m not an artist. When those creative types show me things, I’m always surprised. I always enjoy looking at new work. So it’s quite abstract, in a way, what has influenced me.
High Gloss Lacquered Oakwood Chair in Scrapwood by Piet Hein Eek.
What are you currently longing for?
That life stays as it is.
Articles
-
Hero Design Studio
For many setting out to make it on their own, a storefront is a destination. But for husband-wife team Mark Brickey and Beth Manos Brickey of Hero Design Studio, their shop in Buffalo's Allentown…
-
Graphic Design: Project Projects
Manhattan-based Project Projects may be a graphic design studio, but it works in all dimensions, on the page and off. Founded by Prem Krishnamurthy and Adam Michaels in 2004, the firm designs…
-
Inventables: Materials Database
Zach Kaplan is looking out for the little guys. In 2002, he launched Inventables, an extensive library of high-tech materials from manufacturers and innovators like Dupont and 3Form. The initial…
Products
-
No More Rules: Graphic Design and Postmodernism
Poynor provides readers with a compre-hensive overview of the origins of graphic design, postmodernism, and deconstructionism in the digital age.
-
Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects
I very recently got my grandmother's old sewing machine up and running (huzzah!) and have been on the lookout for some neat projects to get me stitching. Lotta Jansdotter is an icon of DIY design…
-
79 Short Essays on Design
Using wide-ranging topics including business, art, economics, history, war, politics, film, and books, Bierut explores the relationship between graphic design and the multiple facets of…
Dwell Collections
-
Geigy's Graphic Design
Design Musem Zurich's current show Good Design, Good Business showcases the great graphic design from 1940-1970 of the Swiss chemical company Geigy.
-
Scandinavian Designed
Having just returned from a trip to Copenhagen, I have Scandinavian design on the brain. Though the region arguably experienced its golden era in the mid-20th century, with the work of icons like…
-
Inspired Design
The memory of designer Tobias Wong lived on at "Brokenoff Brokenoff," an exhibition hosted at Manhattan’s Gallery R’Pure. The show was composed of pieces interpreted by his…
Tips
-
How to Build a Lighting Concept
I’m a fan of floor lighting plus a couple of small table lamps for the living room. Use ambient lighting and low-wattage warm bulbs to create a relaxed atmosphere.
-
Masculine Design: Three Pitfalls
Just like in female design, going overboard can end up disastrous. If you put so many antlers up on the wall it just becomes overkill instead of an interesting and whimsical addition to a…
Videos
-
Dwell on Design 2011
Join us behind the scenes of Dwell on Design where 21,000 attendees gathered at the Los Angeles Convention center to discover the latest innovations in modern design.
-
Universal Design: Public Restrooms
In the first video of a two-part series, New York–based firm Smart Design examines the intersection between Universal Design principles and the limitations of public bathrooms.
-
Emerging Designer: Louise Campbell
The Danish designer Louise Campbell has animated Royal Copenhagen and other traditional brands with a playful, experimental spirit.
Events
-
Design USA: Contemporary Innovation
This exhibition features outstanding contemporary achievements in American architecture, landscape design, interior design, product design, communication design, corporate design, interaction…
-
Graphic Design: Now in Production
This major international exhibition explores how graphic design has broadened its reach dramatically over the past decade, expanding from a specialized profession to a widely deployed tool. With…
-
Planning India: From Chandigarh to NanoCity
swissnex San Francisco invites a panel of experts to discuss the past and future of urban planning in India, highlighting two examples: Chandigarh, a city mandated by the Nehru government in the…
Advertising
Advertising
Advertising
Related Products
-
No More Rules: Graphic Design and Postmodernism
Poynor provides readers with a compre-hensive…
-
Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing: Patterns and How-To for 24 Fresh and Easy Projects
Latest
-
02.09
An Architecture Guide to Pyongyang
German architect and writer Philipp Meuser realizes that…
-
02.08
Fair Chairs
We continue our coverage of the 2012 Stockholm Furniture and…
-
02.07
Seven from Stockholm Design Week
It's about mid-way through the 2012 Stockholm Design Week and…
Follow
Dwell
-
At the top of the monumental staircase @bsaspace by Howeler+Yoon. Awesome opening tonight @bsaaia! http://t.co/z9cli8TT #design
-
Thanks, @dailytekk, for including @dwell on your list of 100 Best, Most Interesting Blogs & Websites! http://t.co/hbMnDiTO #design
-
Was Mario Manningham's Super Bowl catch a work of #architecture? http://t.co/zxD47gN1
-
“@archpaper: Move over Ice Cube, Moby jams to #architecture, launches new blog about Los Angeles: http://t.co/eVKNB5WK”
-
Subscribe Today Don't Miss a Word of Dwell
$19.95
10 Issues / a Year
Copyright ©2004-2012 Dwell Media LLC. All rights reserved. Dwell, the Dwell logo, Dwell Homes and At Home in the Modern World are registered trademarks of Dwell Media LLC
My girlfriend once bought a little statue of Marilyn Monroe for a dollar from a market in Italy. It was 100 percent kitsch, and I thought, My goodness. Then it broke, and I found myself spending a whole evening gluing it back together. It was so funny, back from a thousand pieces. I loved it.
Credit where credit is due, Cok de Rooy may not be an artist nor a designer, his way of seeing is that of an artist. In the late 1970's I worked at Metz & Co as his assistant in the buyers' office. He had and still has a nose for talent, spot on, he's a great mentor. Wonderful to see this cool profile in Dwell.
RSS Feed
Add a Comment