Milan 2012: these knobbly seats by Belgian designer Maarten De Ceulaer are on show at Spazio Rossana Orlandi in Milan this week.
Each piece in the Mutation series is made from foam spheres, cut so they fit together, attached to a frame and coated in rubber or flocked.
De Ceulaer's work is also on show at the Triennale di Milano and as part of IN Residence at Ventura Lambrate.
The Salone Internazionale del Mobile takes place from 17 to 22 April. See all our stories about Milan 2012 here.
Photographs are by Nico Neefs.
Here are some more details from Maarten De Ceulaer:
Mutation Series
The pieces in this series look like they weren’t made by hands, but have grown to their present form organically. They might be the result of a mutation in cells, or the result of a chemical or nuclear reaction. Perhaps it’s a virus or bacteria that has grown dramatically out of scale. The Mutation pieces make you look at furniture in a different way.
Maybe one day we would be able to grow a piece of furniture like we breed or clone an animal, and manipulate it’s shape like a bonsai tree. On the other hand, the project can be seen as an experimental review of classic furniture upholstery. It reminds us of the famous and iconic deep buttoned (Chesterfield) sofa's, interpreted in a highly contemporary and sculptural way.
Instead of upholstering springs and foam with leather or textile, these pieces are created by carefully composing patterns with cut-offs of foam spheres of various sizes, and applying them onto a structure. In the end the entire piece gets coated, with a durable rubber or tactile velvet-like finish. It is hardly possible to ever recreate such a specific pattern, so every piece is completely unique.
Not the kind of furniture a hypochondriac would purchase ;)
I am not a hypo, but it still freaks me out!
reminds me of this concept by Council: http://www.dwell.com/articles/home-furnishings-ma…
sweet!
reminds me of a design by Serge Haelterman: http://www.sergehaelterman.be/#/unborn/molecular-…
From 2002…
what a lame comment; doesn't look alike at all, and this Serge didn't even build anything! anyone can draw something 'molecular' in 3D! Next time he should realize his idea and make it work too!
Deedee just said it reminded him of something. Nothing to get angry about, you know..
plus : the technique of coated foam wasn't yet as developed as it is now, used and overused by countless belgian designers for years (arne quinze, sylvain willenz, etc etc )
They do look similar. Different approaches, I'll admit, but the aesthetics are akin.
The comment was not lame. If not only for the reason that this blog is about inspiring us to think of different approaches regarding furniture design The Haelterman design had the this Idea of large scale magnetic "bucky-ball" furniture that changes shape. Highly interesting and inspiring concept art.
Don't be so harsh on people.