Surprise! Pulling This Knife Handle Opens a Secret Bread Box
It is a little like those fanciful secret rooms opened at the twist of a candlestick, tilt of a lamp or pull of a book. In this case, though, the ordinary object is a bread knife that tips a concealed mechanism and operates the top of a bread box.
When one sees knives stuck into wooden blocks in the kitchen, one assumes they simply sit waiting to be removed and used. Instead, this bread box block acts as a shelf, cover and opening – and the knife does more than just cut.
Its design, by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay of Raw Edges, utilizes parallel hinging strips like those found in vintage sewing boxes. These disappear in the wall-mounted system, making the purpose of the box less than obvious at first glance – it could simply be extra surface area and knife storage.
More info about the designers:
“Both born in Tel Aviv in 1976, Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay studied at the Bezalel Art & Design Academy in Jerusalem before moving to London. After obtaining a diploma from the Royal College of Art in 2006, they founded the Raw Edges Design Studio. Yael likes to fold slim layers of all sorts of material as if they were paper, creating curved volumes and functional forms, while Shay has a passionate interest in a world where things move, function and interact. These two different approaches come together to create a series of original projects, characterised by a keen sensitivity towards the environment. 2009 was an important year: in addition to the Elle Decoration International Design Award for Stack by Established & Sons, in the Furniture section, at Design Miami/Basel the duo received the Designers of the Future Award 2009. They work with a number of international brands and producers, such as Arco, Cappellini, Bauhaus Ceramic Japan, Established & Sons and Stella McCartney.”
