Sidewall, Zed

“Zed” (Czech for wall) was designed for the “Zeitwande” collection. The wallpaper, a white relief vinyl with the texture of rough plaster, was dotted with blown glass beads available in a variety of colors. Small indentations on the surface of the vinyl indicated where the beads were to be glued after installation; a tube of super glue was included with each purchase. While appliqués have been used on wallpapers back to at least the 1850s, this is the first application of blown glass beads on a wallcovering. The beads not only produce greater surface relief and color contrast, but they also create dramatic shadows that change with the light source.
Šipek was introduced to glass arts at a young age by his stepfather, an established Czech glass artisan. Šipek became known for his use of contrasting materials which were frequently used in unexpected combinations. He studied furniture design, architecture, and philosophy at schools in Prague and Germany and received a Doctorate in Architecture from the Technical University of Delft in 1979. Šipek opened his own architecture and design studio in Amsterdam in 1983.

Sidewall, Zed; Manufactured by Gebr. Rasch GmbH & Co., Rasch & Company; Germany; vinyl and blown glass beads; H x W: 1005 x 53.5 cm (395 11/16 x 21 1/16 in. ); Gift of Gebr. Rasch GmbH & Co.; 1995-163-17