Mecanicarium

Like the tick tick ticking of the intertwined gears on a mechanical wristwatch, it’s been a minute since we have seen a new puzzle from Christophe Laronde, the reclusive genius behind some truly brilliant puzzle box creations. The incredibly complex interstellar space odyssey object d’art known as TETRA landed on Earth three years ago, and a lot has changed since then. Christophe was the creative force behind NKD Puzzle, the company he started which produced his prior designs including Mecanigma, Scriptum and Architecto. He parted ways with his former business partner, and has been quietly working his way back to the moment when he can continue his creative journey. The time has now come.

Christophe’s creations are all inspired by stories that captured his imagination, as a child and adult. They bring to life, in his own way, ideas from books, games, movies and popular culture which have made a lasting impact on him. He has a special ability to translate these themes into complex, puzzling mechanisms, which are both challenging and aesthetically pleasing. His boxes are wonderful to behold. His newest creation is Mecanicarium, a successor to Mecanigma which has evolved in complications, like a fine watch.

Mecanicarium puzzle box by Christophe Laronde

Christophe shared his story with me recently, about the breakup of NKD Puzzle and his new beginning. “Let's just say that sometimes it takes me a long time to truly get to know the people I work with. I tend to be naive and am not the sort of person who easily sees through others' masks. I place my trust in everyone too readily because I want to believe (and still do) that human beings are good by nature. I learned the hard way that this isn't always the case. I had to deal with the daily toxicity of a malicious person, someone I am happy to have distanced myself from now. I eventually realized that I couldn't change their nature.

My goal is to make a living from my creations, not to engage in speculation, excessive investments, or scams, all in the hope of moving up in social class at any cost. I believe modesty is a virtue and that one should be content with what one has while doing what one does best. Even though that venture ended in failure, I’ve decided to hold onto the good memories. I gained a great deal of experience during that time. I don't want to harbor resentment that would make me see the world as less beautiful than it actually is.

The period following NKD was a time of introspection for me, I asked myself many questions, harbored even more doubts than usual, and re-evaluated my lifestyle and aspirations, making several changes along the way. But ultimately, I realized that I cannot live without creating. Creation is the foundation of my existence, it’s what allows me to move forward and keep believing that the world is tangible.

Beyond creating puzzles, I have designed various types of objects (all laser-cut). I developed a passion for furniture and interior design, creating lamps, an architectural coffee table, and a dragon-shaped light fixture that doubles as a cat house.”

Each one of Christophe’s boxes is the result of meticulous detailing and construction of printed parts by hand. Of course many months go into the development, planning and prototyping, and some creations have taken years to become their final versions. The wooden parts are laser cut, but there are also 3D printed parts and metal accents or components. After staining, hand painting, and finishing, each Mecanicarium takes approximately two weeks to complete. Christophe makes them in his spare time, so production is very limited. These boxes are quite special, and it is wonderful to see that Christophe is creating again.

“As the grandson of a watchmaker, I was fascinated by the field long before discovering my other great passion: science-fiction. I believe my work reflects a blend of both, particularly in "Le Mécanicarium" (a name inspired by the video game Machinarium, which I really enjoyed). Mécanigma was my first attempt at a watchmaking-themed puzzle box. I had also created other pieces featuring gears. For "Le Mécanicarium", I drew direct inspiration from the antique watches and clocks I saw as a child, specifically pocket watches with tiny rubies serving as pivot points. I was captivated by that profusion of minuscule gears pulsing to the rhythm of the seconds, housed in skeletonized frames that offered a glimpse of the mechanical elements beneath, all encased in a palm-sized housing. It represents the pinnacle of technology from the early 20th century, an era when machining lathes became far more widespread and accessible.

I built upon my existing knowledge of the subject and studied multi-layered mechanisms, watches featuring unique, sometimes superfluous complications that remain fascinating from a purely engineering standpoint. I looked at the evolution of watches across generations of watchmakers, with each era refining and adding complexity to the work of its predecessors. Here, the watch itself has vanished, leaving only the complications behind. Without giving too much away, I believe this puzzle is based on cycles and loops. However, the passage of time isn't driven by a coiled spring, but by the player themselves. All of this allowed me to build this mechanical assembly while also reconnecting with childhood memories, evoking that "Proust’s madeleine" moment that reminded me of my grandfather’s workshop.

Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

I also experimented with a new black finish inspired by the cast-iron machinery and tools of the early 1900s, painted black and adorned with gold leaf and the manufacturer's mark. You know, that era when even workshop machines featured decorative elements, and tools were built to last a lifetime. The animal sculptures adorning the box’s various sides also draw inspiration from early 20th-century statuary. They echo the neoclassical figures often found at the base of buildings or on cornices and entrance steps. It is also a nod to La Fontaine’s fables, which frequently feature multiple animals as metaphors for different facets of human nature, caricaturing various psyches and behaviors. So, the box could just as easily have been named "The Bird, the Lion, and the Bear".

I’m delighted to have been able to incorporate that little lion’s paw, which serves as the box’s foot, because even old bathtubs can be a source of inspiration! For once, it will sit level when placed down, without needing a dedicated stand.” Mecanicarium is a stunning follow up to Mecanigma, which itself is a highly captivating experience, full of clever mechanical interplay, puzzles, components, tactile and auditory feedback, whimsy and wonder. Mecanigma is an enjoyable, moderate challenge. Mecanicarium has evolved exponentially and elevates the experience to maximum complexity. It is so much more convoluted, layered, challenging, and full with visual splendor. I could not ascertain how to even begin for the longest time. Once components begin to move, shift and interact, things quickly become extremely confusing. “It’s quite difficult to count the movements on this box, as they aren’t distinct from one another, but we can consider that there are approximately 38 steps involved in opening it.” I’ve only discovered about 5 of them, and am already lost in the machine, but I’m hoping that like clockwork, the time will eventually be correct again to move forward. Mecanicarium is a mind-boggling playground of mechanical eye candy and brain bending pleasure.

When the Mecanigma puzzle box was featured here many years ago, I made a complex cocktail in homage called the French Storm. The name and ingredients were a nod to Christophe Laronde’s home and to his creation’s theme and impact. It seemed appropriate to reference back to that original cocktail name with a toast to the sequel, while also incorporating the name for his new production venture, “Brain Pinch Puzzles”.

The Brainstorm cocktail is a lesser known classic dating back more than 100 years, when it first appeared in Hugo Ensslin’s famous Recipes for Mixed Drinks, 1917 as the “Brain Storm”. The original recipe calls for one “Cube of Ice, 2 dashes Benedictine, 1 piece Orange Peel, 2 dashes French Vermouth, 1 drink of Irish Whiskey”. Interestingly, the recipe also instructs the maker to “serve with a small barspoon in glass”. Perhaps so the storm in your brain occurs more slowly, one small spoonful at a time?

Modern day bartender Al Sotack has been a champion of this old classic since his days at Philadelphia’s Franklin Mortgage and Investment Co (a well know cocktail bar there), and brought it with him to Jupiter Disco in Brooklyn, his current bar. Irish Whiskey tends to be lighter and smoother than bolder Scotch or rye, so it can get lost in classics like the Manhattan. The Brainstorm allows the whiskey to come through, with small amounts of the sweet Benedictine and dry vermouth to balance the drink. Here’s to classic comebacks – cheers!

Mecanicarium puzzle box and Brainstorm cocktail — a brainbending pair

Brainstorm by Al Sotack

2 oz Irish whiskey

½ oz dry vermouth (such as Dolin)

½ oz Benedictine

Stir ingredients with ice and strain into a coup. Lemon twist.

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