Interior Designs From The War 'Close To Home' By Ezri Tarazi

Tired Tire Chandelier: © Ezri Tarazi A professor and industrial designer, Ezri Tarazi was also in the Israeli military.  Clearly, his battle experiences had a profound effect upon him, as they would any person.  Tarazi kept many souvenirs from the experience, like bomb and bullet shells, ammunition boxes, and worn out tank tires, ones that often show up in civilian areas because, in Israel, skirmishes occur 'close to home.'

Kaleb is Israeli army slang for 'close to home.'  Tarazi has repurposed his military souvenirs into designs for the home.  They are now in a one-person installation, called Kaleb, at the Paradigm Design Gallery in Jerusalem.  About the theme, Tarazi writes,

The home becomes a "closed military zone" that in its comfort can diminish the natural defense mechanism. This exhibition raises the questions of security, anxiety, home and sense of security, at times when soldiers and civilians play equal part in the confrontation. This could be the confrontation with our enemies or the confrontation within us, between our primal behaviors and the tamed ones. 

Here are a few of Tarazi's designs on exhibit.  In the first photo is a sofa made from sandbags,Soft Reventment, and the Tired Tire Chandelier, made from tire shreds.

Kalab, close to home sofa: © Ezri Tarazi

Seen from another angle, the Kaleb sofa looks a lot like a bunker.

Soft Reventment: © Ezri Tarazi

The shelving in the above image is crafted out of ammunition boxes, as is the desk tray, Media Force, below...

Medea Force desk tray: © Ezri Tarazi

 

And the Red Leader Bookshelf below....

 Wall shelf, used ammunition box: © Ezri Tarazi

On uneven legs of steel are mottled pieces of wood and fiberglass representing the ground, ravaged and scarred from fire... the coffee table...

Thermal Earth Coffee Table: © Ezri Tarazi

Kaleb will be on exhibit through March, 2011.  For more designs from the installation, as well as many other Tarazi designs, visit his Design Studio.

sources: Tarazi Design Studio,  Core77