The modern application of Vienna straw in the design gallery of the week
Used since the time of the ancient Egyptians to make seats, the workmanship that joins together decisions and decisions of wicker threads to return a holed texture, solid and resistant, it does not go out of style. Decorative gesture typical of straw furniture used to populate the Central European atmospheres of Vienna of the early twentieth century, the art of weaving evolves into new generation of design in the name of tradition and, at the same time, of applied technique. Without abandoning the natural fibers of the rush, designers and creative companies thus also explore the plastic potential of other materials, updating the shapes and volumes of backrests and seats with new patterns and more performing finishes. How, tells us the design gallery of the week.
The Winston Bench by Mater
For Mother, Eva Harlou projects Winston Bench, a bench that takes its name from Winston Churchill and which serves as an extra seat in the corridors, at the end of a double bed, next to a dining table or in an office area where a small point of support is needed. With its simple and elegant construction in wood and wicker, it reinterprets the classic bench: if the structure is made of FSC certified oak, the cane is applied to the oak wood frame in a third generation Danish wicker workshop, thus transferring a ‘ancient craftsmanship tradition in a new era of modern design.
The Brise chair by Gervasoni 1882
Photo courtesy of Gervasoni
Quotation of Vienna straw, the decoration chosen by Federica Biassi for the Brise series by Gervasoni 1882 it is very reminiscent of the typical ornament of rush weaving. Literally translatable as “breeze”, the in&out furniture family aims to “refer to the pleasant breeze that mitigates the summer heat to enjoy moments of relaxation en plein air and accompany happy and carefree moments”, they add in a descriptive note. Evoking the floral style loved byArt nouveauthe set of seats, tables and smaller accessories updates the wood with resistant materials that can be used outdoors, including stainless steel treated for outdoors, Millgres and concrete.
The bucket by Studio Sarta
Dosmasenlamesa
Rattan and leather go hand in hand in the handmade bucket by Studio Sarta. Among the models signed by the brand founded in Palermo in 2007, Pablo Basket is a cylindrical bag closed by a drawstring. Designed to be worn all the time, the collection of shoulder bags responds to the practicality of modern life by recovering the volumes of the past from the past basket, to which roundabout he adds a leather skeleton and some metal details.
The 822 chair by Ton
Courtesy photo Ton
Futuristic reinterpretation of the most famous straw weave ever, Ton’s plot is the result of collaboration with the Swedish studio Rune of Claesson Koivisto. Inspired by Josef Hoffmann’s 1930s design of the modernist A811 model, the Swedish team designed a peek-a-boo pattern: moving from the natural shapes created by manual wood bending technology, the result takes on a unique character given by a perforated motif which in the seat and backrest on the other hand has the graphic rendering of a polka dot.
The Marcel bathroom cabinet by Ceramica Cielo
Photo courtesy of Ceramica Cielo
The processing of straw also enters the hygiene room giving shape to a bathroom furniture inspired by the rational sign of the Bauhaus: Marcellus. Designed by Andrea Parisio And Joseph Pezzano for Ceramica Cielo, the cabinet with washbasin is a concentration of natural materials that combines ceramic with rush. The woven structure, enhanced by the sinuous design of the chest of drawers, is available in natural or black-stained ash wood, in stark contrast to the sink housed in the upper part. In fact, the basin, suspended or free-standing, is available in enamelled white and in the matt and glossy shades of the “Terre” and “Acque di Cielo” color palettes.
The Kha armchair by Very Wood
Mirò Zagnoli
For a lot of wood, Christophe Pillet has designed Kha, a small armchair with an ash structure characterized by a rounded back which emphasizes the enveloping shape of the seat, bent with steam. The retro charm of Vienna straw therefore meets the minimalism of geometry to update the shapes of the classic chair in a set of essential and contemporary lines.
