Castor is a Toronto based design team headed by the creative minds of Brian Richer & Kei Ng.
Perhaps you haven’t heard of Castor but it is likely you have seen their work, or perhaps you’ve even sat on one of their bar stools or under one of their thought provoking chandeliers or pendants.
Their gritty New York aesthetic and alternative design approach places Castor at the edge of the design industry box which would explain why it seems so natural for them to think outside of it. Their reuse of discarded materials and repurposing of what others would see as junk ties in perfectly with the punk rock counter culture identity of the brand.
Although it would appear that they are operating against the grain of mainstream design, the popularity of their products is broadening their influence and has extended their reach to the States, Europe and Japan. Since joining forces in 2006 as Castor, Brian & Kei have quickly built a name for themselves in both the design and art world, as well as contributing to the music and restaurant scene in their local Toronto. Theirs is a multi-disciplinary design studio which blurs space, product and ideas.
Tube Light, made with dead fluorescent tubes
It is a true test of a product designer to convert an object of a previous function and redesign it to appease a new use without it resulting in something of a temporary appeal. Castor however has found a corner of the market that they seem to be able to manipulate with great ease and are producing unique products that have a stroke of wit in character and a touch of elegance in form. That’s not to say that Brian and Kei don’t put in substantial hours themselves testing each prototype to perfect it so that when it is manufactured it looks effortless. The simplicity of the final product is only a testament to the careful thought and consideration that has gone into the fine tuning of each and every detail.
Their products could be interpreted as poking fun at the haughty high-end taste associated with upscale design accessories, and I’m pretty sure they prefer it that way.
Invisible Chandelier, made using a variety of burnt out bulbs
As opposed to many of today’s products which are cheaply manufactured in mass quantities, purchased in haste, and then quickly pushed aside for the latest trend, Castor’s products are often finding a second life within a new useful context.
Sauna Box, Made from a repurposed shipping container
One of the best examples of Castor’s ability to reinvent the function of an object while at the same time saving it from the landfill would be in their creation of the tank light. These are pendant lights made from re-purposed fire extinguisher tanks. Lights are finished with high-gloss automotive paint in a range of colors. Can be sold individually or in clusters of three, seven, or fifteen.
Tank Light, made using recycled fire extinguisher tanks
Also check out a fascinating behind the scenes look at the Castor design mentality and process here:
CASTOR IS FRENCH FOR BEAVER from Castor Design on Vimeo.
You can connect to Castor Design’s mesmerizing website by clicking HERE.
Photos courtesy of Castor Design.
Researched and written by Adam Balkwill, School of Interior Design, Ryerson University.
