Extremis Gazette - The Landscape Issue

Gazette

THIS IS NOT F U R N I T U R E The Landscape issue

For Extremis, it all started back in 1994 when Dirk Wynants

Can you gather that Dirk is rather strong-willed? He didn’t stop

designed his own outdoor family table called Gargantua. Why not

at his first table Gargantua... From then on, several innovative

just buy one? Well, because there were not many options on the

designs would see the light of day. Each product of the Extremis

market that allowed the family — both children and adults — to

family being an inspiring piece that merges both necessity,

sit around the table together at the same eye level; nothing that

quality and utility. They spark interactions that matter and

was functional, and beautiful at the same time.

improve people’s lives. This is not just furniture...

These are tools for togetherness

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The road to (re)connecting

The new meaning of Main Street

As a brand making “tools for togetherness,” fostering interactions is in our DNA. It’s not just a pretty slogan – it is our raison d’être (reason for existence). Following a period of widespread isolation from a global pandemic, cities finally acknowledge their role in bringing communities together after spending so much time apart. Once considered a mere utility, public space is now centered around connection, community and togetherness.

In 2021, the cozy town of Rockford, Michigan closed part of its main street to create a public gathering space. Many realized for the first time the value of a spontaneous encounter with new faces. The main street quickly became a bustling gathering place for families and friends, boosting the local businesses as well. The city realized that the benefit of this space for fostering connection and community was greater than it was as a pass-way for cars. Now Rockford has embraced a new standard for planning... not leaving the public space blank, but making a long-term investment in togetherness.

Function, then form

Gargantua © Design by Dirk Wynants for Extremis, 1994

Galvanized steel & iroko hardwood Fully wheelchair accessible after putting height adjustable bench at highest level Open to floor anchoring 333 lbs

Every piece in the extremis collection has a functional value beyond the aeshetics. The first table, Gargantua, was designed by Dirk Wynants in his garage back in 1997. He wanted something beautiful and functional to bring his family to the table outdoors each summer evening for a home cooked meal. Gargantua had height-adjustable benches so the children and adults could sit at the same eye level; a true tool for togetherness.

You will see an added value in each design offering a new way to come together around the table.

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Magazine Gazette

Hopper Bench © Design by Dirk Wynants for Extremis, 2010

As Henry Ford once said, “If I asked my customers what they wanted they would have said a faster horse.” The same can be said for our Hopper Bench which puts all other city benches to shame….boasting far more functionality than was imagined before.

With a tabletop seamlessly connected to the bench, it allows you to slip in on the sides and stay for a full day of fun – sitting for a break, meeting friends for lunch, catching up on emails... you name it. Though we love horses-drawn carriages, we have been inspired by the innovation, Henry.

Galvanized steel frame Galvanized steel or coated aluminium legs Iroko hardwood, Hellwood or All Aluminium Fully wheelchair accessible at the open side of the bench tabletop Open to floor anchoring 102 lbs to 280 lbs

h HOPPER BENCH Use it as a table and a seat, or a seat with backrest. Choose in which direction you prefer to look — Okayama, Japan

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O

p e n

Size does matter

Spaces Cities are often hubs for design lovers. However, urban areas don’t typically come with the luxury of space, particularly outdoors. Our collection through the years adapted to smaller environments and smaller



organizations too. With Picnik,

HOPPER PICNIC

Virus and Bistroo, we focus on those

The seamless transitions between outside and inside, private and public spaces results in an inviting and inspiring hospital building in Knokke, Belgium.

smaller spaces like balconies or city terraces, or conversely when specified in larger quantities in

HOPPER BENCH Location, USA

bigger areas, they transform empty,

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urban space into bustling centers for interaction & togetherness.

 BISTROO Côte d’Azure, France

Extremis is based in one of the most rural areas of Belgium. With stunning panoramic views surrounding us, we’re always trying to enjoy those views to the fullest. Without limitations of space, the first Extremis products have focused on bringing large groups together in natural settings. We just can’t help but revel in this Burgundian lifestyle. In public spaces, our tools for togetherness serve the community, large tables inviting people to interact with each other.

Interaction and togetherness is what makes us human, right? But while strolling through the streets of London in the early 00’s, Dirk Wynants was astonished by the plastic furniture he saw on small balconies and decided to design strong tools for togetherness for smaller spaces and crowds too.

With the population of urban areas on the rise and the most common living format being a household

of two, it became more clear that designing smart, functional furniture for compact spaces was more important than ever.

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VIRUS Virus brings life to even the most sterile places with its playful shape.

The compact design makes it perfect to use on balconies, in urban gardens or in breakout spaces. Here, Virus is used to bring colleagues together and enhance the corporate culture of Hulthouse at their headquarters in Boston, USA.

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Versus Urban Spaces

 BISTROO With two seats side by side, you create a cozy patch for a relaxing coffee, an intimate chat or to watch the world go by.

PICNIK Turning a grey space into a playful togetherness area for the neighborhood in front of Standard Hotel, New York.

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Coated aluminium Wheelchair accessible at the open side Open to floor anchoring 132 lbs

Picnik © Design by Dirk Wynants & Xavier Lust for Extremis, 2002

Zero waste A teeny tiny spot is sometimes all you need to escape the day. Let’s not waste any space to enjoy life. And let’s not waste the world to do so. Picnik is made from a single sheet of aluminum, cut and bent to shape with zero waste. The form comfortably seats two people at the table and withstands the harshest of the elements outdoors. A perfect example of ‘form follows function’, Picnik is a true design classic in the Extremis collection.

Magazine Gazette

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With a surface area of 80,000 yd2, the Herman Teirlinck building is the largest passive building in Belgium. In total, it provides 1,800 flexible workplaces for 2,600 people. The beating heart of the building is a covered, indoor street where staff and visitors find a connection with nature at work. The biophilic passage provides access to four winter gardens that provide daylight and access to real nature. They effectively bridge the gap between inside and outside and offer an escape from the daily hustle and bustle.

HOPPER COMBO - HOPPER BENCH - CAPTAIN’S CHAIR Herman Teirlinck building by Neutelings Riedijk architects — Belgium

Breaking boundaries The lines that were once the confines of each faction of our lives have blurred. As we move through our day, from work, to the park and back home, people search for adaptable spaces that offer the same comforts. Blur the lines between inside and outside with greenery, natural materials and colors, sunlight, fresh air and inviting nature sounds.

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“Work” is cited to be the biggest barrier to spend time in nature. But why would we limit nature time to only leisure activities? Instead we could create flourishing natural spaces to work in. By integrating more natural aspects in the workplace, our fundamental need to be connected with nature is satisfied, which results in improvements in productivity, health, and well-being in the office. In an era where people have limited access to nature, the best trick to make employees content could be to create opportunities for escape from enclosed spaces.

Magazine Gazette

Hopper Picnic © Design by Dirk Wynants for Extremis, 2010

Hopper is a more functional solution for a classic concept: the picnic table. The bent leg feature eliminates the awkward straddle of climbing over the benches.

Aluminium or steel legs in combination with class I hardwoods ensure material longevity while the attached benches offer a clean aesthetic at all times. If you prefer a mono-material picnic table, you can opt for Hopper AA. Galvanized steel frame Galvanized steel or coated aluminum legs Iroko hardwood, Hellwood or All Aluminium Hopper combo with chairs and a bench at one side allows wheelchairs to join the party Open to floor anchoring 255 lbs to 443 lbs

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Sitting side by side

Instead of sitting across from each other, you sit side-by-side at the Bistroo. It’s ideal for an intimate chat, a relaxing coffee or just watching the world go by.. Bistroo sits comfortably in small spaces, perfect for a terrace or balcony, but a colourful repetition of many Bistroo’s in a row will enhance conversations in public spaces on a larger scale as well.

Coated steel Wheelchair accessible from the front Open to floor anchoring 52 lbs

BISTROO Thanks to its three cleverly positioned legs, the Bistroo remains perfectly stable on an outdoor terrace. This one can be anchored too.

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Bistroo © Design by Dirk Wynants for Extremis, 2018

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Romeo&Juliet © Design by Stijn Goethals, Koen Baeyens & Basile Graux for Extremis, 2009

Jatoba hardwood & Fiberglass pots Open to floor anchoring 278 lbs

 A BIOPHILIC DESIGN BENCH Romeo&Juliet is made of Jatoba Hardwood (FSC 100%) and comes with two plant pots. The proper greenery is a personal choice to match your esthetic and climate. This sturdy, wooden bench offers a comfortable place to sit, and adds a touch of green to even the coldest urban or industrial setting. An elegant marriage between nature and design, this biophilic bench breaks open spaces and creates a sense of warmth.

Magazine Gazette

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Our shades

The icing on the cake

Combining our tables with our shades make them the sturdiest terrace sets you have ever seen. Each design with its unique set of features, has been tested in a wind tunnel for tensile strength and durability.

INUMBRA The uniqueness of Inumbra lies in its design. The mechanism that opens and closes the shade sits above the fabric, so there’s no jumble of ropes hanging above your head. The shape and high tension make Inumbra extremely windproof while it provides more shade and coziness for you to enjoy.

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 ACACIA Direct your parasol towards the sun to create shadow where you need it with this canopy in a treelike structure.

 HOPPER SHADE Echoing the lines of the Hopper table, and of the hop fields that formed the inspiration, this foldable canopy suits the picnic table without taking up any extra space.

 INUMBRA / INUMBRINA Gargantua and Abachus tables are perfectly complemented with these sturdy shadow makers in public spaces.

Our shades are built like a lion, cared for like a lamb.

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Innovative design umbrella

Combine the Inumbra shade seamlessly with Gargantua or Pantagruel without the need for a base at your feet, instead the table itself acts as base.

Easily open and close the umbrella with the handle and spindle system.

Let the sun shine! Inumbra provides protection with a minimalist appearance and no visible technical parts underneath, leaving a clean view of an elegantly suspended canvas overhead. The unique positioning of the mechanical wires at the top, paired with the tensile strength of the high-tech polyester fabric make this umbrella exceptionally strong and aerodynamic, holding up in winds up to 45 mph.

InUmbra © Design by Dirk Wynants for Extremis, 2002

The Pantagruel round picnic table seats eight people. With its sturdy benches and anchoring option, it’s been used countlessly in landscape projects. Its size invites coworkers, passers-by, or friends to join eachother around the table and lets the conversation flow freely.

Coated or galvanized steel & Hellwood or Iroko hardwood

 PANTAGRUEL PICNIC TABLES WITH INUMBRA SHADES Alheembouw — Belgium

Open to floor anchoring 341 lbs

Pantagruel © Design by Dirk Wynants for Extremis, 2014

Magazine Gazette

Collection

Gargantua

Inumbr(in)a

Pantagruel

Abachus

superior functionality thanks to its adjustable benches

its flat shape & high tension for beauty and resistance

son of gargantua featuring a ‘lazy susan’

when standing up, you can lean against one of its six arms

Anker

Extempore

Romeo & juliet

Hopper

a triangular picnic table that comfortably seats six of you

a full range of modular outdoor furniture

this bench adds a touch of green to your terrace or project

easy boarding thanks to four pass-through zones

Hopper shade

Pontsūn

Marina

Captain’s chair

open and close intuitively with spring mechanism

an oriental feel with origami-like legs

endless possibilities with this picnic table in lengths from 141.75 in to 474.5 in

wide shell for ultimate seating pleasure for all people

Tiki

Sticks

Picnik

Virus

stackable, pared-down bar stool, and foldable table for 3 or 5

a space divider, create privacy wherever needed

iconic picnic table made of half a plate of solid aluminium

compact 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 seater for the urban garden or balcony

Acacia

Bistroo

Walrus

Kosmos

exceptionally atypical sunshade intended to be directed towards the sun

two seats and a table to sit side by side

the very first outdoor sofa with blanket & pillow in the backrest

picnic & lounge by moving the table up & down

Kosmos shade

Sol+luna

AMAi

Sensu

the kosmos parasol opens and closes horizontally

sunbed during the day, lounge by night

high and low table in one multifunctional design

a floating shade that opens horizontally and has a variety of positions

Extremis USA 239 northland drive NE Rockford MI 49306 + 1 616 693 6020

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Read more stories Photography: Beeldcollectief, Leigh Ann Cobb, John Smith, Joji Okamoto, Peter Würmli, Piet De Kersgieter, Photographil, Verne.

info@extremis.com Our headquarters: Couthoflaan 20 B 8972 Poperinge, BELGIUM + 32 57 346020

www.extremis.com

© Extremis 2022 / All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, all designs and photographs contained in this publication are copyright protected and are the property of Extremis. No part of this publication may be copied or distributed without Extremis’ prior written consent. The names of the authors of photographs to which we do not hold rights are mentioned here. We have done our utmost to provide a comprehensive list of names. In the event of an alleged breach, please contact the editorial staff.