Focusing on the key pieces of furniture for the home: a place to eat, rest, sleep and work
A SENSE OF PLACE
Nestled in the forest near the Silver Coast in Portugal lies the De La Espada factory, a facility that values the independence of master craftspeople and embraces both the traditions and innovations of woodworking.
We combine reverence for the place we make our furniture with an international perspective, promoting the value of sensitively-designed products for the home.
As a platform for creativity and selfexpression, our close partnerships with designers result in diverse yet aligned product families that are the building blocks of authentic interiors.
HUMAN MADE
De La Espada is industrial design with a warm heart, where luxury is expressed through tactile materials and obsessive detailing.
Well-being is a central focus, from the craftspeople who deftly bring each piece to life, to the end user, who may coexist with the product for a lifetime.
Our craftsmen and craftswomen take pride in their work, and apply their expertise to create the most aesthetically and structurally enduring furniture possible.
POETIC SENSIBILITY
Quiet, emotive and timeless, De La Espada furniture gracefully balances beauty and utility.
A tireless approach to creating products imbued with value is met with an intuitive understanding of what we as humans need to feel good.
We focus on the key pieces of furniture for the home: a place to eat, a place to rest, a place to sleep and a place to work. A restrained palette of natural materials allows for flexible interior combinations.
DESIGNERS
NERI&HU
Neri&Hu is an inter-disciplinary awardwinning architectural design practice based in Shanghai, China, with an additional office in London.
With their product line, ‘neri&hu’ they seek alternatives to the normative, questioning the potential in ‘Chinese design.’ neri&hu is the reinterpretation of the beauty in the raw material, changing perceptions through what is revealed, examining history and its path, or capturing an ordinary scene in a snapshot.
LUCA NICHETTO
Luca Nichetto is an acclaimed Italian designer with offices in Venice and Stockholm. His work is informed by his collaborative approach to design and deep respect for craft across all disciplines.
For his product line, ‘Nichetto’ he creates products with personality, distinction and versatility. The pioneering yet classical forms highlight the unique characteristics of the premium materials and superior craft.
Matthew Hilton is an esteemed British designer whose eponymous product line expresses the technical knowledge and clarity of vision gained over three decades in the industry.
Utilising robust materials that improve with the mark of age, Matthew Hilton creates timelessly beautiful, exceedingly functional products that are rigorously engineered. Every view of a design is valued equally, every aspect carefully considered, allowing for a sense of appreciation over time as new details are discovered.
STUDIOILSE
Ilse Crawford is a designer, academic and creative director with a simple mission to put human needs and desires at the centre of all that she does. As founder of Studioilse, together with her multi-disciplinary, London-based team, she brings her philosophy to life. This means creating environments where humans feel comfortable, public spaces that make people feel at home and homes that are habitable and make sense for the people who live in them. It means designing furniture and products that support and enhance human behaviour and actions in everyday life. It means restoring the human balance in brands and businesses that have lost their way.
AUTOBAN
Internationally renowned, Istanbulbased, multi-disciplinary design studio, Autoban creates statement furniture to further the story told through their architecture and interiors.
Each product is informed by a uniquely space-centric approach, blending wit with sophistication, and minimal forms with rich materials.
JASON MILLER
Jason Miller is a Brooklyn-based designer and the founder of Roll & Hill. Born in New York and raised in Darien, Connecticut, Jason’s suburban upbringing heavily influenced his early, more conceptual pieces and continues to inform the elegant, historically rich work that has become his signature. Today, Jason runs both Jason Miller Studio and Roll & Hill from his headquarters in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
Casa da Escrita
Casa da Escrita is located in Coimbra, Portugal near the De La Espada factory. Formerly known as Casa do Arco, the residence of the late poet João Cochofel, it was refurbished in 2010 by architect João Mendes Ribeiro and repurposed as a space for writing events and a temporary residence for practising writers.
The refurbishment was respectful of the historic features of the building, preserving elements such as decorative ceilings and corniced walls, while simplifying the living spaces, adding flexibility, and bringing a comfortable, functional modernity.
752LR SOLO ROUND DINING TABLE, 750 SOLO DINING CHAIR, 760 LATTICE LIGHT
781S CAPO LOUNGE ARMCHAIR, 782 CAPO BED
110 DUBOIS BED, 109S MITCH LOW CABINET
De La Espada furniture is built with a respect for the unique characteristics of solid wood, which requires our craftspeople to take intelligent decisions regarding stability and aesthetics at every stage of manufacture. This is particularly evident on our tabletops and chests of drawers, where the expansive surface highlights the expression of the wood grain.
Isabel applies her 26 years of experience to the selection, sequencing, and gluing of timber for planar surfaces and chests of drawers. She works closely with Celeste, who brings 29 years of experience, and together they create the stunning compositions of timber you find on De La Espada furniture.
For tabletops, they choose the planks and sequence that are most pleasing to the eye, always using the maximum plank width that their demanding standards for strength and consistency allow. This varying plank width is characteristic of De La Espada products, a detail that honours the natural beauty of the material. For chests of drawers, each drawer face is made from a single plank of timber, chosen carefully for its beauty and proportions, as well as how well the colour and grain works with the other drawer faces.
The discerning eyes of Isabel and Celeste bring an added layer of depth and artistry to De La Espada furniture, showcasing the profound natural beauty of solid wood.
Final Assembly: Jardel
The De La Espada factory is filled with skilled craftspeople with varying expertise including 3D drawing, operating and programming CNC machinery, selecting timber, cabinetmaking and upholstery. It is in final assembly, in the capable hands of Jardel, where all stages of production come together to create the final piece.
After finishing and upholstery, products are passed on to Jardel for final assembly. Having worked in all areas of the factory, Jardel has a deep understanding of the craft of our products, allowing him to skilfully make final adjustments to pieces before they are sent to Quality Control. He is essentially the first stage of QC, as he meticulously checks the finishing,
assembly, hardware, alignment, and all other details of a product, fine-tuning as he goes. He finds satisfaction in seeing each piece of furniture in its finished stage, and with each product in our diverse range made to order, every production week is different, creating a variety he also enjoys. Jardel’s great depth of knowledge allows him to rise to the challenge each day brings, and ensure strict De La Espada standards are met.
In warm weather, Jardel travels to work by bike or motorcycle and can be found on weekends riding along the Silver Coast with loved ones.
FONTE BOA HOUSE
Fonte Boa House is located on the west side of a small estate in central Portugal’s Rabaçal Valley, surrounded by the Jerumelo, Sicó and Espinhal mountains.
Designed by João Mendes Ribeiro, the two-storey rectangular volume with zinc pitched roof is a reinterpretation of the traditional singlefamily housing typology. The modern white form is complemented by stone and concrete as well as the generous use of wood throughout the interior, including the flooring and the core staircase/utility area. Abundant windows connect the indoor and outdoor spaces while providing views over the estate’s vineyard and olive grove.
383 POLE LIGHT, 389 MIRA LOUNGE CHAIR, 389O MIRA OTTOMAN, 345 I-BEAM SIDE TABLE
“I think good architecture has to move us and stir emotions.”
The architecture of João Mendes Ribeiro is where everything intersects: time, where the historic merges with modernity; space, where the landscape and the building are one; and movement, where the inhabitant’s experience is central. The Coimbra-based architect’s emotive designs have won prestigious awards including the RIBA Award for International Excellence and the European Union Prize for Contemporary Architecture. Ribeiro has also won awards for his stage designs for theatre and dance — work that broadens his understanding of space, scale, lighting, and movement: “I am deeply influenced by other artistic and disciplinary areas, like visual arts and performing arts. My work comes from the constant experimentation between the two. This brings about unexpected connections and styles that redefine the limits of architecture.”
Ribeiro was educated at the Architecture Faculty of the University of Porto (FAUP), co-established by highly influential architect and educator, Fernando Távora, whose methodology has inspired numerous contemporary architects including Pritzker Prize-winning alumni Álvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura. The approach Távora espoused, modernity with sensitivity for history and locale, has created an exceptional generation of Portuguese architects who have given this small country significant international recognition. Távora’s influence on Ribeiro came not only from education, but in the workplace: “I was Fernando Távora’s assistant at Coimbra University Architecture Department for seven years and for that time I had the privilege of observing his sensitivity and wisdom. In many conversations, inside and outside of the department, I learned from him the importance of the relationship between heritage and new buildings. Távora always knew how to work with pre-existences, designing modern architecture which is sensitive to local shapes and values and establishing a possible synthesis between tradition and modernity.”
While the core values of Ribeiro’s work are shared with his contemporaries, his creative vision is unmistakably his own. His modern interventions seem to venerate the historic elements, amplifying them. His projects show a restraint, a focus on the essential, from which life bursts forth. The landscape
seems like liquid, penetrating the walls of his buildings, through oversized windows or the choice of materials. “I am constantly looking for a way to connect and bond the building and the people with nature and geology.”
Materiality focuses on the local and the true: “The use of materials that are deeply connected with the rigorous construction process (artisanal, in some cases), are the principal features of my work. The choice of materials in each project translates a certain rapport with the territory, which is a concept that is very dear to the tradition of the Architecture Faculty of the University of Porto (FAUP). Therefore, colour and palettes are always given by the natural colour and texture of the handmade or natural materials we use.”
Sketching is an important part of his design process, and is where each project begins: “For me, it’s essential to ‘think’ the project through the process of sketching. Sketching is a constant tool that I use and it’s part of a daily ritual. Sketching and drawing first starts as a copy of the site and its reality and later, as the project progresses, it transforms to an experimental act. Sketching is also a research tool wherefrom the architecture emerges, not as a technique, but as an evidence of life itself.”
Ribeiro’s work most often focuses on renovation projects, where opportunities for fusing old and new abound. He explains the fusion thus: “In a refurbishment and rehabilitation project I am always interested in using the existing building and exploring the qualities and potential of the spaces it contains. Each specific or peculiar feature of the existing building is a pretext for change in the project, in order to incorporate it in the design of the space. In order to comply to modern necessities, in some projects we will admittedly design that which is ephemeral in confrontation with that which is perennial (the building). As such, temporary equipments and furniture allow for different compositions and layouts, creating flexible spaces in accordance with the new uses … the constructed space (or the archive of memories) embraces the variable space, in a way mirroring the fleeting intensity of contemporary life.”
The approach may be carefully calculated, but the result is one that feels absolutely organic, as if the building and landscape have always existed in that way. “In the end, I think good architecture has to move us and stir emotions.”
Two of João Mendes Ribeiro’s projects feature in this lookbook, Fonte Boa House and Casa da Escrita; the architect explains their geneses thus:
“I started Fonte Boa’s project after finishing a project of a traditional hay barn conversion. I was also inspired by the traditional Portuguese espigueiro, a kind of barn used to store and dry corn, elevated from the ground. But foremost, I reinterpreted the Portuguese traditional single family house – a two storey rectangular volume with a pitched roof, designed with a simple and operative principle, in a familiar and domestic scale.”
“Casa da Escrita’s project is the winning proposal of a competition promoted by Coimbra City Hall in 2004. One of the main features of the project is to reuse the building in a contemporary way, and give it new meaning. The project is focused on restoration and preservation, integrating new living uses which allow to maintain the memory of the building. In Casa da Escrita we are not looking for unnecessary ruptures, but rather for a hybrid time, which is achieved by consolidating materiality and thus establishes a relation between tradition and modernity.”
Casa no Tempo is a former farmhouse located in Montemor-o-Novo, Portugal, surrounded by one thousand acres of cork trees, pastures, and wild fields. Hoteliers João and Andreia Rodrigues worked with architect Manuel Aires Mateus to transform the property, which has been in their family for generations, into a four-bedroom holiday home.
The renovation created a feeling of timelessness, preserving the memories of the place while thoughtfully modernising. Deepening the connection with the outdoor spaces, oversized windows invite the landscape into the home, while the purity of the white walls increases the impact of both the view and the complementary materials including flooring made from local clay blocks. Rooted in the beauty and industry of the locality, Casa No Tempo has an understated interior reflecting an honest, emotionally appealing approach.
766LA FRAME LONG SOFA, 769 TRAY FOR FRAME SOFA, 754O TRIO OVAL COFFEE TABLE
766LA FRAME LONG SOFA
769 TRAY FOR FRAME SOFA, 754O TRIO OVAL COFFEE TABLE
766LA FRAME LONG SOFA, 754O TRIO OVAL COFFEE TABLE
753S DUET CHAIR UPHOLSTERED
120 KIM BENCH, 112 LOW DUBOIS BED, 102S STANLEY ARMCHAIR
Guida has worked at our factory for twenty years in various departments from sanding and finishing to operating the CNC machinery. She has many years of experience making clothing in her own time, and now applies that expertise to her role sewing upholstery.
The technical sensibility and eye for perfection that allowed Guida to excel as a CNC operator are what drive her success on the sewing machine as well. We have high standards for the consistency of our seams, and the often-sculptural forms of our furniture call for a particularly high level of skill, a steady hand, and a great deal of patience.
When working on new designs, our product development team consults Guida and the rest of the sewing team on how to achieve technically challenging stitching, refine patterns, and create features such as intentional creasing. The seamstresses’ understanding of the craft allows them to offer solutions that create an optimal final result.
In her free time, Guida tends to the flowers in her garden, and takes great enjoyment in flower arranging, even helping out at her local florist shop for special events. She also sings in a choir that performs in competitions and at weddings.
Nelson is in charge of the 6-axis multitool-head CNC (Computerised Numerical Control) machine at the De La Espada factory. His work involves operating, programming the CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) that drives the machine’s movements, and overseeing the work of his team. The combination of a 3-tool head and a mobile split bed allows this CNC machine to efficiently create complex components with excellent precision, making it particularly well-suited to the manufacture of chairs and other intricate pieces with sculptural qualities.
After receiving timber parts cut to the approximate dimensions of the final component, Nelson assesses each, choosing which
face of the plank should be most prominent. He alters the machine’s programming when necessary, changing the starting point or order of operations to optimise the performance and beauty of the plank. Applying expertise gained from his interior design education and years of hands-on experience, he ensures every component is machined to a high level of perfection made possible by the exactitude of the machine.
Taking advantage of his proximity to the Silver Coast, Nelson practises kite surfing, paddleboarding, and even a bit of seaside capoeira in his free time. Afterwards he likes to refuel with one of his favourite traditional meals, Portuguese stew.
PRODUCT INDEX
Our product range reflects the diversity of our creative partners and the unity of shared values, materials, and craft, allowing you to easily combine products to create your own unique interior.
763S
763
780
219P/T DEER BAR STOOL BY AUTOBAN
272P/T THRONE BAR STOOL RATTAN BY AUTOBAN
249P/T BUTTERFLY BAR STOOL BY AUTOBAN
440S
219SP/ST DEER BAR STOOL WITH ARMS BY AUTOBAN
271P/T THRONE BAR STOOL UPHOLSTERY BY AUTOBAN
441S STOOL UPHOLSTERED BY STUDIOILSE
443 BENCH BY STUDIOILSE
450 TWO-SEATER BENCH WITH BACK BY STUDIOILSE
446 SETTLE BY STUDIOILSE
444 BENCH WITH BACK BY STUDIOILSE
451 TWO-SEATER LOW SETTLE BY STUDIOILSE
754SM TRIO SIDE TABLE MARBLE BY
754SP TRIO SIDE TABLE COPPER BY
754S
459 SIDEKICKS HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TABLE BY STUDIOILSE
790 HANDLE SIDE TABLE BRASS BY
456 SIDEKICKS OCCASIONAL TABLE BY STUDIOILSE
762 STRUCTURE TABLE BY NERI&HU
394F
393F
355 MARS ROUND TABLE BY MATTHEW HILTON
458 SIDEKICKS SMALL DINING TABLE BY STUDIOILSE
395 OVERTON TABLE BY MATTHEW HILTON
452E TOGETHER EXTENDING TABLE BY STUDIOILSE
452F TOGETHER FIXED TABLE BY STUDIOILSE
454R/L COMPANIONS WRITING DESK BY STUDIOILSE
TIMBER
There is nothing quite like solid wood: reflecting the life of the tree, every plank has an individual beauty granted by its unique colours and grain patterns; it allows for the use of joinery as handsome as it is secure; it has a natural tactility and familiarity that connect to us in a true way; and it allows for the use of finishes that invite you to get involved in its care.
We exclusively use timber from sustainable farms. This not only makes environmental sense, the trees methodically replanted, but aesthetic sense as well: the regular pruning that occurs on these farms creates the highest quality planks with greater strength and fewer knots. Our finishes are carefully chosen to embrace and enhance the characteristics of the material, while offering a broad range of aesthetic possibilities.
Our oil finishes reveal the inherent colour and grain variations in the timber, whilst providing a renewable surface for enduring beauty.
Our oxidised timber employs an oxidising solution that reacts with the tannin in the wood, creating a beautiful patina. This is followed by a clear, matte lacquer.
Our stains and paints are available in a choice of ten colours. Stains are sealed with a clear matte lacquer to maintain the colour whilst preserving the silky touch. Our painted timber is wire brushed before the application of the paint, creating a textured surface.
DANISH OILED
AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT
DANISH OILED
AMERICAN WHITE OAK
WHITE OILED
AMERICAN WHITE OAK
BLACK OILED
AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT
WHITE OILED
AMERICAN BLACK WALNUT
OXIDISED
AMERICAN WHITE OAK
BLACK OILED
AMERICAN WHITE OAK
BLACK OILED
EUROPEAN ASH
DANISH OILED
EUROPEAN ASH
WHITE OILED
EUROPEAN ASH
ASH PAINTED BLACK
RAL 9005
ASH PAINTED BORDEAUX NCS S6030-R10B
ASH PAINTED OCHRE NCS S 4040-Y20R
ASH PAINTED BONE NCS S1005-Y20R
ASH PAINTED WHITE
RAL 9016
ASH PAINTED FOREST
NCS S7020-G
ASH PAINTED BAY
NCS S 7010 B50G-APPROX
ASH PAINTED COVE
NCS S 6010 G10Y-APPROX
ASH PAINTED FJORD
NCS S 3010 G20Y
ASH PAINTED LAGOON NCS 2010 G
CREDITS
Photography
All lifestyle, interior and still life photography + page 7 by Yuki Sugiura
All cutouts, factory images by Carlos Teixeira
Designer portraits by: Andrew Rowat Lera Moiseeva courtesy of Matthew Hilton
Leslie Williamson
Sergio Ghetti
Jeffrey Schad
Architectural sketches
João Mendes Ribeiro
Art direction
De La Espada
Styling
De La Espada
Editing & words
De La Espada
CREDITS
Accessories with thanks to Kasthall
Nani Marquina
Larusi
Triton
Volga Linen
Wästberg
Catarina Riccabona
Eleanor Pritchard
Mourne Textiles
ESK Cashmere
David Design
Oyuna
Lladro
Mjölk
Iittala
Georg Jensen
Neri & Hu
Makers & Brothers
Michael Anastassiades
Matthew Hilton
Massimo Gardone
Antonio Albertino
Skultuna
SCP
