ARCHITECTURE - INTERIOR - ART - TRAVEL - CARS - LIFESTYLE / SUMMER 2019 / WWW.IMAGICASA.BE / BE-NL €9,95 / UK £10
Spacious living by the Scheldt with courtyard
Start of pre-construction sale – visit scheldehof.be or call 03/336.00.00 ! " NIEUWZUID_ANTWERPEN
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Impressive Penthouse Nathalie Deboel Irakli Zaria Six N. Five Roly Poly Chair Thierry Lemaire Decus Interiors Dubois Control Summer Reading Boon Gallery
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Christopher Elliott Art prints by Atelier CPH Joyce Wang Going East More than Service The Most Beautiful Beaches Winter McDermott Design Artur de Menezes Quintessentially Let’s Fly Away
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Private Island Resorts Viva La Vida Relaxing at Lemniscape Luxury Products Hilma af Klint Courtauld Collection Andy Waugh Yacht Design Navigation without Limits Robocar Ralph Lauren’s Collection
DEAR READER, This edition of Imagicasa magazine is not only the first issue that we publish in the month of June, it is also the 10th edition. A real jubilee edition! We could not have reached this milestone without our loyal partners and readers, so first of all I would like to thank you all for your continued support and trust. In just a few years, Imagicasa has grown enormously. The website expanded to this magazine and we now even offer a real lifestyle with the decorative objects and exclusive furniture that are sold in our webshop. Our website also got a fresh coat of paint to fit even better in the style and atmosphere that Imagicasa represents. The ‘stories’ make the website more dynamic, partners and their realisations get more visibility and there are many new features. On top of that, we don’t just write about national and international inspiring projects, since this spring our magazine is actually sold abroad (Singapore, Australia, the UK, Switzerland). A great honour and the confirmation that with hard work dreams can really come true! So, we advise everyone to keep dreaming and with the help of this June edition of Imagicasa magazine we are already giving our readers a push in the right direction. Summer is approaching and maybe you have a pleasant holiday to look forward to. This is the ideal time to relax with a magazine – and maybe also a cocktail – in your hand and let yourself be inspired by all the beauty we bring. Exclusive travel destinations, retro interiors and colourful works of art are put in the spotlight. We present both international names (Thierry Lemaire, Irakli Zaria, Winter McDermott) and Belgian high-flyers (Balo, Nathalie Deboel). We also bring you the stories of flight attendants working on private jets, the founder of the company Vip & Butler Services and we share tips of a real estate agent in Spain. Looking for something even more exclusive? Then let yourself be enchanted by the latest yacht designs by Oceanco and designer Andy Waugh. And are you still looking for a fun activity this summer? Be sure to visit Boon Gallery in Knokke where some unique works by Picasso will be exhibited. As you will notice, we have once again collected a tasteful collection of interesting and inspiring subjects for you and we hope to be able to do so for many years to come. On to the next 10 editions! Let me inspire you!
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OUTDOOR
Text: Caroline Meeusen
IMPRESSIVE
PENTHOUSE
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o, this is not a luxury villa somewhere in Hollywood or Saint Tropez, but on the sunny coast of Tenerife. You will – just like Imagicasa – stare your eyes out! The project seems almost too beautiful and big to be real, but this architectural gem was actually built. We see more and more, and not only in Tenerife, luxurious complexes and villas appear along the coast, but this piece of architecture and design is head and shoulders above the rest. For others a dream, but for the two lucky ones who can call this their home a wonderful reality. It serves as a holiday home for a couple. Both are businesspeople and so they wanted a place to relax and truly unwind. There is no doubt that that is perfectly possible here. The impressive penthouse was furnished
with luxurious furniture by Balo, a (furniture) design boutique in Mol, Belgium, founded by Bart Lodewijckx and Lou Vanhees. Many aspects of this project, including the pool house, bathroom and kitchen were designed by Margot Pauwels of Three of a Kind, creating a real added value. With this collaboration, together they were able to perfectly realise the wishes of the customers. Co-founder Bart gives us a first glimpse into this exclusive paradise especially for this summer edition of Imagicasa. IMPRESSIVE SIZE The house has an impressive surface area of no less than 1400 m2. The property is located on the top floor of two buildings and is divided into two sections. You read that well, the penthouse continues over two buildings
© Jente Willems
Situated between the azure blue Atlantic Ocean on one side and the El Teide Mountains on the other you will find this beautiful penthouse in Tenerife. Breathtaking in all its aspects: the size, the view, the furnishing … Everything contributes to the exclusive luxury look and feel of this holiday paradise.
that are connected by a bridge. It may be an unusual element to take into account in a design, but it did not cause any difficulties, according to Bart: “The bridge is only visually impressive from the outside. When you are in the house or on the bridge, you don’t feel like you are floating 20 metres above the ground.” The designer used the bridge in the design and let nothing of the space go to waste. On one side, you have the penthouse with a part of outdoor space and on the bridge itself is an outdoor dining area. When you cross further over the bridge, you arrive at the pool house and the pool. The outdoor area is Bart’s – and undoubtedly the owners’ – favourite space, but it was also the most challenging one. “The whole outdoor concept is so big, that it was a real challenge to put it together in such a way that it would be functional
but beautiful as well. Filling a terrace or garden with furniture is not difficult, but it also has to be practical and look good of course.” Balo arranged the outdoor space so that it could be used to the full. “We made use of the whole terrace – which is really, I can’t say it often enough, huge. You can’t just fill it up with sunbeds, so we’ve divided it up into different zones. Each zone is a separate experience, a separate little corner,” says Bart. For example, the penthouse has a kind of outdoor lounge where you can have an aperitif. There is also a breakfast corner so that you can start relaxing early with a view of the rising sun. Then they also provided a dining area with a large wooden table and Paola Lenti chairs. Then, you also have an outdoor kitchen and further on the bridge is a corner with a carpet and lounge chairs from B&B Italia to relax. Here you can really enjoy the 360° view of the El Teide Mountains and the clear blue sea. Although the penthouse itself is certainly a feast for the eyes as well.
jects and extraordinary cases. Every project is a challenge, whether it concerns the design of a city apartment, a yacht or a penthouse. The crazier, the better! We like to get bogged down in these projects. We take care of every detail, everything has to be right down to the last detail,” says Bart. But how do you even begin with something like this? “Everything starts with a conversation. We wanted to get to know the client as well as possible. After all, it was their dream that we had to realise perfectly. We researched how they live, what their habits are, how they experience a home and what their wishes are. We knew that our clients were mainly looking for a place to relax. With all this information in mind, we worked everything out schematic until we came to the final image. This was followed by the choice of materials and colours. When you finally look at the mood board, you have to have the feeling that you are looking at a work of art,” says Bart. That was undoubtedly the case here!
Such a gigantic surface is of course fantastic to work with for an interior architect, but it must have been quite a challenge to furnish it. A test that Bart and his team were all too happy to go through. “In all our experience, we have become accustomed to some special pro-
SERENE & EXCLUSIVE As colours for this beautiful picture, the designers chose to work with very soft tones. Really eye-catching colours were not used here because that was not necessary. “In the end, it’s the panorama that
“EVERY PROJECT IS A CHALLENGE, WHETHER IT’S A CITY APARTMENT, A YACHT OR A PENTHOUSE. THE CRAZIER, THE BETTER!”
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“A 360° VIEW OF RUSTY-BROWN MOUNTAIN FLANKS AND COBALT BLUE OCEAN.” provides the colours here. A 360° view of rusty brown mountain flanks and the cobalt blue ocean,” says Bart. The furniture and floors are all wrapped in that sober palette. The only bright hint of colour are the green strips of grass that have been integrated outdoors. In this way, it feels a bit like a garden as well as a terrace. The pieces of furniture that they have selected for the furnishing of this residence are all gems of leading brands. Inside, you can see a beautiful Minotti salon and chairs from B&B Italia. Outside, they mainly worked with furniture from Paola Lenti and B&B Italia. Everything is perfectly attuned to each other and forms a flawless, fluent whole. You would almost lose sight of the breathtaking surroundings when you see this impressive penthouse. A – in the words of the designer himself – “serene, luxurious, spacious and unique” result and incredible design that only makes us want to see more of Balo. 10 | IMAGICASA
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INTERIOR
Text: Eline De Mont
INTERIOR DESIGNER
Š Thomas De Bruyne
NATHALIE DEBOEL She makes you feel at home in your house and makes it a place where you experience true happiness. She also calls her job a privilege. Being an interior designer is a big responsibility, but at the same time it is a pleasure for her to see what she can do and what her work means for others. It motivates her and her team to create something unique with every new project. Imagicasa spoke with designer Nathalie Deboel about how she found herself into this business and what she still wants to achieve professionally.
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reativity has always been an important element in the life of Nathalie Deboel. From an early age she also had a great love for and was drawn to interiors and architecture: “Beauty in the broadest sense of the word,” as she tells us. She even went actively looking for that beauty, as we can see in the hobbies she had at the time: classical ballet, classical music, art academy, painting and handicrafts. Although Nathalie also liked to play tennis and went to a school specialised in physical education in Ghent, she very consciously chose to study interior architecture at the Sint-Lucas Institute. In life, you have to do what makes you happy after all. “Interiors and living in a beautiful, serene environment are to me the basis for a happy life,” says Nathalie. It is very important for the designer to furnish spaces in such a way that the residents are surrounded by beautiful objects and that everything is well organized as a counterbalance to their busy and hectic lives. It’s important to note that most of her realisations are located by the coast and in the peaceful surroundings of Knokke. Nathalie herself
– as she puts it – ‘washed ashore’ here a few years ago and she found it the ideal place to found her own office at the age of 35 after having gained experience at other companies – Obumex, Massimo Dutti, Flammand. She feels like a fish in the water here and has been entrusted with the renovation of a lot of residences, holiday homes and second homes in recent years. Her clients are mainly like-minded people who demand a timeless and relaxing interior. Yet every project is different. We talked to the interior architect about how she does that. TRUST AND EMPATHY Interior design is Nathalie Deboel’s greatest passion. It is a way of life and she would gladly give up part of her free time for it. However, it is first and foremost her job and not a hobby: “The great responsibility towards the work to be done, the empathy towards your clients, the psychology, the eye for detail and the constant curiosity about materials, concepts, atmospheres, etc. ensure that you cannot venture into interior architecture as a hobby,
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but that you can only consider it as a professional occupation.” Not only is it extremely important to be surrounded by the right team of professionals and artists who can keep to the set timing and budget. According to Nathalie, it is the essence and also the biggest challenge of this profession to look again and again with a fresh eye and to listen to the clients with a curious ear. “You have to read the house, understand it and turn the owner’s wishes into a new home.” Nathalie knows that every client, every family is unique and she is open to different lifestyles and different types of homes. The resident must be at the centre of the project, which is why she calls her design process a ‘tailor-made philosophy’. She makes the following comparison: “A house has to fit like a wonderfully cosy coat.” It should not only be beautiful to look at, but it should also have a good and practical feel for the owner and meet the requirements of his/her life. These are tasks that you don’t take lightly and that’s why Nathalie is so grateful for every chance she gets, for the trust that is placed in her. Every project needs the right preparation. This starts with an initial interview in which the designer visits the house and will check up on the necessary points that need to be tackled. “We discuss what our added value can be for in the home and for the lives of the clients,” explains Nathalie. After that, a mood board is created and the project is worked out in more detail. On the basis of the preliminary design, the ideas are explained and the owner can give feedback, after which a detailed planning and budget are established. Understanding the client and the empathy that Nathalie Deboel pays so much attention to, are important factors throughout the process. For her, an interior is only finished when clients have brought in their personal touches. “These can be the books in the library, the works of art on the wall, a piano that is being played, ...” IMAGICASA | 17
SOLUTIONS AND INSPIRATION The designer calls her creations ‘well thoughtout canvases’ with beautiful proportions, lots of natural light and a logical circulation. According to Nathalie, these elements – in addition to the personal touch – ensure that you feel good in a room. An interior by her hand therefore always looks harmonious and contemporary. At the same time, she has a preference for authentic materials. “I find the classical heritage extremely interesting and I like to find out how I can translate it into contemporary living.” In addition, she also responds to the social challenges of today. Given that allergies occur more and more often – and thus have an impact on how people live and furnish their homes – Nathalie has chosen with her design agency to delve into sustainable and natural materials. These also bring additional advantages: they are timeless and often become even more beautiful and valuable over the years. 18 | IMAGICASA
“WELL THOUGHT-OUT CANVASES WITH BEAUTIFUL PROPORTIONS, LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT AND A LOGICAL CIRCULATION.”
The search for – and the finding of – these kinds of creative solutions is therefore part of Nathalie’s design process. She loves to discover new things and to be amazed and surprised. During her career, she has also learned to think ahead, to anticipate and to persuade people to achieve objectives together. Nathalie looks up to other people with passion, who practice their profession with love and who are positive about life every day. Others in the field who inspire her are Vincent Van Duysen, John Pawson, Laurent Deroo, Axel Vervoordt, Studio Mumbai and – in Nathalie’s words – ‘classics’ such as Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. The interior architect is also inspired by nature, art, travel, exhibitions, visits to studios and authentic places. She herself hopes to
inspire young people, to make people happy with her creations and to make something unique every day with a motivated team of employees. And from the looks of it, she’s on the right track to keep doing this for many years to come. With a second office in Brussels (in addition to the existing one there and the one in Knokke) and a book that presents an overview of the past ten years, Nathalie Deboel is here to stay . She also keeps dreaming – every night, as she tells us – of even more creative projects: a hotel, a furniture collection, a line of bath and bed linen or maybe even a collaboration with some artists. “I hope to be able to do this job for a long time to come and meet many more interesting clients.”
CAFEINE.BE • INTERIORDESIGN: STEENHUYSE.COM
— RRINT ERIEUR.BE knokke
stylish as ever
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INTERIOR
Text: Caroline Meeusen
BOLD AND
CHARISMATIC
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© Irakli zaria Interiors
I read an interior and design magazine for the first time. I was so impressed that I began to study such things more and more and also things like the history of art. I was particularly interested in French history and architecture and spent a lot of time studying traditional architecture and design when I visited the gardens and palaces in Paris and all over the country.” And his interest in history and art did not stop there. On the contrary, his passion continued to grow and he fell in love with 20th century design and Japanese, Chinese and African culture. He then took the logical step and graduated from the Details School of Design in Moscow. A place he cherishes to this day: “I am still very attached to that place that has given me so much support and knowledge. At the moment, I also give lectures on interior design and I try to share my experience and knowledge with a new generation of students. I really enjoy that!” He has based his studio in Moscow, but is working on projects all over the world and is currently working in London, Nice and Barcelona. International projects are not only good for boosting his career,
Immerse yourself in this world of bright colours, unique pieces and bold combinations. All things that define this London apartment, and all other projects, by designer Irakli Zaria. The unusual but successful combination of mid-century pieces, gold-plated details, turquoise shades and Japanese antiques will not leave you unmoved.
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he Russian designer Irakli Zaria is known for his artistic and sophisticated interiors. The beautiful project we are showing you here is a perfect representation of his unparalleled style and talent. Zaria – who is as stylish and charismatic as his designs – tells us more about this London apartment in an exclusive interview. But before we delve into his world of colourful design, we want to take you along the road he has traveled to become the successful designer he is today. IRAKLI ZARIA INTERIORS Zaria founded his studio Irakli Zaria Interiors three years ago, but has had a passion for the profession for much longer. “I’ve been fascinated by interior design since I was a teenager. At the age of 18 or 19,
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they also give him new ideas every time: “I travel a lot and take a lot of inspiration from the places I visit and the people I meet,” says Zaria. He is also inspired by different movements and styles. “My love of design is very extensive. I love the Neoclassical style but at the same time I am fascinated by the simplicity and elegance of the Early Modern style. I love the eloquent and sleek Art Deco and at the same time I am a fan of mid-century Modern lines in furniture and Abstract Expressionism in art. I mix the furniture and works of art and work with layers from one style on another. In the hands of a good decorator, pieces from different periods can be in a beautiful dialogue with each other.” In almost all of his projects you will also find a certain infusion of Japanese or Chinese art and antiques. He himself collects terracotta and porcelain pieces from the Han and Tang Dynasty. Zaria’s clients are also an important source which he relies on. “I always get inspiration from my customers and remember that the house is designed for them and not for me personally. That’s why I listen 24 | IMAGICASA
carefully to them and pay attention to their needs and love for certain colours or styles. All my clients are so different and that’s why I never get tired of my projects and not one is the same.” In this way, Zaria designs unique interiors with certain details, elements and principles that recur.
“I MIX THE FURNITURE AND WORKS OF ART AND WORK WITH LAYERS FROM ONE STYLE ON ANOTHER.”
TEXTURE, ART & COLOUR In Kensington, overlooking Hyde Park and surrounded by Neoclassical houses, we find this beautiful duplex apartment. Imagicasa was blown away by this beautiful little retreat designed by our interlocutor. Some of the rooms look almost like a work of art and the beautiful bright colours immediately make you happy. The house is owned by a Russian couple. He is a businessman and she is a well-known fashion blogger. They chose a second home here because they often travel to the British capital and prefer not to stay in a hotel. “The whole process of this project was really fun. I was lucky to have a client with a good sense of humor and a great love of colour!
She didn’t want it to look too ‘London-ish’ so we decided to create a space that could be anywhere in the world and, of course, full of colour to dispel the grey clouds of London,” says Zaria. The owners – just like the designer – also love vintage furniture from the 50s, 60s and 70s. Together they created an elegant but not too formal space full of textures and colours. Most of the furniture you’ll find in the interior comes from flea markets in London and Paris. Real vintage and unique pieces. They have collected some fantastic pieces by Karl Springer, Milo Baughman and Paul Dupre-Lafon, among others. Zaria also designed some of the pieces specially for this house: the lacquered screen in the sitting room, the fireplace, the beds and some of the console tables. Zaria also designed the carpets himself. “The whole design started with the carpets. I see a carpet as the largest painting in a room. For this one, I was inspired by patterns of Japanese Art Deco and antiques.” Shades of turquoise are the common thread throughout the house, starting with the beautiful Galerie Glustin-sofa upholstered in Dominique Kieffer-velvet. The sculptural shape of this sofa is a tribute to Jean Royère, one of Zaria’s favourite designers. Almost all rooms are generally covered in pastel shades. The walls in the living and dining room are upholstered in Holland&Sherry silk and the walls in the master bedroom are covered with a very unique, hand-gilded straw wallcovering. This gives the bedroom a lovely warm glow and the walls fit in perfectly with the 17th century Japanese screen that hangs over the headboard. “The oak wood panelings, straight lines and the graphic prints in art and upholstery add some masculinity to this feminine space,” says Zaria. Elsewhere in the duplex, you’ll find some more of those unique Japanese screens. A second golden Japanese screen hangs in the dining room. This is a 16th century piece with parts of 15th century Chinese love letters. In this room, there are even more rare pieces. You’ll find vintage raffia chairs by Milo Baughman, another of Zaria’s favourite designers from the 70s, and a Karl Springer table that seems to consist of marble, but is actually made of goatskin covered with many layers of lacquer. Although according to Imagicasa the whole house is an eye-catcher, according to the designer each room has a central point. “In the sitting room this is for example the pair of colourful screens and in the dining room the beautiful, blue kinetic work of the British painter Marc Cavell.” Art is clearly an important element in this interior. The whole may certainly be called a work of art, but you will also find works of art and objects in every room. “For me, there is no design without art. The space acquires a soul and charisma when you dress it with an appropriate work,” says Zaria. Unique, colourful and full of charisma! We can say that Irakli Zaria has an unparalleled style and dares to combine things that would deter others. We are looking forward to seeing what projects he will surprise us with in the future. IMAGICASA | 25
DESIGN
Text: Caroline Meeusen
REALISM MEETS SURREALISM Realism and surrealism merge and form a fluid harmony in the beautiful designs of the creative studio Six N. ive. The colourful images are visually very satisfying and almost transport you to another world that Imagicasa loves to lead you through for a magical trip. 26 | IMAGICASA
WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND SIX N. FIVE? HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN? “I was born in Buenos Aires and studied Graphic Design there. At first, I wanted to start my own studio there, but because of the experience of working and living in Madrid for six months, that did not happen eventually. I loved living in another country, so I founded Six N. Five in Barcelona in 2014.As a tourist I already loved the city and the same language is spoken there. You have a beach, you are close to the mountains and there are 28 | IMAGICASA
“THE SOUL OF THE STUDIO ACTUALLY LIES ON THE BORDER OF ART AND DESIGN.”
so many different cultures. Most of my clients also come from Europe. So this seemed to be the ideal place. Currently, the studio consists of a group of designers specialised in 3D design and Art Direction.” WHERE DOES THE NAME COME FROM? “Honestly, it was chosen rather randomly. It’s the specific time when we wanted to finish and wrap up our day. And we thought the numbers also looked very good aesthetically and sounded good!” VISUAL POETRY It is not easy to describe the beautiful images and scenes. They almost seem to be poetic compositions and actual works of art. Pini combines his refined imagination with exceptional skills and know-how to create a unique and pure design. His colourful oases with surrealistic touches and backgrounds appeal to the imagination.We let the artist – because that is how we can certainly call him next to ‘designer’ – talk about his style and colourful still lifes and video projects.
© Six N. Five.
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ix N. Five is a contemporary design studio based in Barcelona. The studio specialises in still life visuals and videos which they create for other brands, architects or designers, but they also regularly experiment with their own projects. All designs have modern aesthetics and are a real treat for the eye. The colourful fantasy worlds leave no one unmoved. The creative brain and founder behind this company is Ezequiel Pini who tells us more about his designs and studio in an exclusive interview with Imagicasa.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR WORK AND STYLE? “My work is a bit peculiar and difficult to describe. I would say I am an art director who knows how to use one of today’s greatest tools, 3D. It allows me to create digital images that look real. Some words to describe my style are subtle, soft, conceptual, graphic, pastel and sometimes provocative. The soul of the studio actually lies on the border of art and design. It is also important for us to create an image that brings something to the viewer, a feeling, a smile, pleasure or sometimes even discomfort.” WHICH IDEA LIES AT THE BASIS OF YOUR DESIGNS? “The main idea is to create eye-candy images, to create the wow effect and confuse the viewer with what is real and what is not.” WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION? “I really find inspiration everywhere and I think everything can be used as a creative source. Working with 3D with realistic results gives us the opportunity to combine textures we like with shapes we love and place them in a building or space we would like to live in. So we have a wide collection of references and sources of inspiration that help us in our job. As designers, we also see many images passing by and try to stay informed of all design trends in the different fields.” IMAGICASA WOULD ALMOST CALL YOUR WORK ART. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS? “When I created Six N. Five, I hoped it would form a link between the design and art worlds. These two are naturally and historically connected. But nowadays, they have become more and more isolated, as if they were never related in the first place. I strive to reconnect art and design.” THEMES & TECHNIQUES WHICH ASPECTS ALWAYS RETURN IN YOUR WORK? “We have a great fixation on balance; objects and their relationship, both logical and illogical, with gravity. We are also obsessed with different material proportions. Sometimes
we spend days exploring the limits of a certain material. We like to take a material to an ‘uncomfortable’ place so that it can become the protagonist of the story. Each of our works has some material exploration in it. It is also important to sometimes leave the design world behind you and seek inspiration as far away as possible.Designing is solving problems. We also like to investigate how nature itself solves its problems and
analyse the relationship between people and objects as a result of social norms.” CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT MORE ABOUT THE BALANCE BETWEEN REALISM AND SURREALISM IN YOUR DESIGNS? “We want to create a constant reality so that the viewer does not doubt whether the work really exists or not. But we also love the moment when the brain starts thinking ‘how IMAGICASA | 29
much of this is real?’. We like to live on that thin line between realism and surrealism. We also want there to be a sense that this reality really exists, and at the same time achieve the unreal with a more conceptual approach. It is very interesting to get feedback on the realness of our works, so we see that our goal has been achieved. We also like to make the viewers feel uncomfortable because they cannot find the line between what is real and what is rendered.” WHY DO YOU MOSTLY CHOOSE SET DESIGN AND 3D? “The sensation that a set gives us is very flexible. You can use it to generate empathy and familiarity with the viewer. Or to give importance to a product and create a large distance between the item and the viewer. A bit like window displays. It is a versatile method that offers a lot of freedom. Set design considers physical space. You cannot ignore it, it’s everything. I really love the unlimited possibilities a computer offers: working in 3D, achieving realistic results and creating objects, spaces and situations that wouldn’t be easy or even impossible to create in real life.” CAN YOU TELL ME A BIT MORE ABOUT THE PROCESS WITH WHICH YOU DESIGN THESE BEAUTIFUL WORLDS? “We are looking for references of lighting, materials, spaces and textures. After that, we start with the projection in a sketch, drawing or sometimes we immediately make a design with 3D software. Then, we model and place light and cameras as in the real world and start the shadow process. We test colour combinations, lighting, positions until we get a result that we are happy with and then we render that. The longest process is to achieve realism. We spend many hours or even days adding imperfections, dust and details that make it feel more realistic.”
“THE MAIN IDEA IS TO CREATE EYE-CANDY IMAGES” WHICH COLOURS AND MATERIALS DO YOU LOVE? “I mostly use pastel colours like pink, cream and light blue. But also electric blue or seaweed green are my favourites. In terms of materials, I like semi-transparent or reflective materials, but iridescent materials remain my favourite.” IMAGICASA | 31
To conclude this inspiring journey through the colourful fantasy world of Six N. Five, we asked Pini what his advice would be for other creative people: “Be open enough to take in things from your surroundings and what is happening around you. Find inspiration in your city, your home, your country,...
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Work hard and spend hours trying. If you need a break, take it because it is necessary, but then work harder again. Try to implement these words every day: passion, dedication, commitment, self-confidence, consistency and perseverance.� A motto that he too follows on a daily basis.
TOTAL WINDOW DECORATION - CARPET - PAINTWORK SHOWROOM ZOUTELAAN 58, 8300 KNOKKE TEL. 050 62 78 60
SHOWROOM @ RR-INTERIEUR NATIËNLAAN 215-217, 8300 KNOKKE TEL. 050 60 43 08
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INTERIOR
Text: Caro Schaerlaeken
FAYE TOOGOOD
ROLY POLY CHAIR
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he artist and designer Faye Toogood was born in 1977 in Rutland, England, as the daughter of a florist and a scientist. She decided to go in a completely different direction from her parents and studied art history and visual arts at Bristol University. After her studies, she had the opportunity to work at The World of Interiors. This design and decoration magazine has given her many opportunities. After a few years she even became the decoration editor of the magazine and she worked closely with Min Hogg, the British journalist, interior designer and co-founder of The World of Interiors.
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© Toogood
Respecting the roughness and irregularity of a chosen material, that’s what the British designer Faye Toogood is all about. Her latest project, ‘Assembly 4’ or ‘Roly Poly Chair’, symbolises the journey to motherhood. This collection, and its different variants, are much more than just furniture.
In 2008 she decided to go her own way and founded Studio Toogood in London. She focused on designing sculptural furniture and products. She also designed installations for retailers and fashion brands. These installations were often regarded as the ‘antidote’ to commerce. Her design objects and furniture are in fact a reaction to increased mass production. Everything Faye Toogood makes, revolves around experimentation and materiality. The fact is that all her pieces are made by hand by traditional craftsmen and small, local factories. Moreover, it is extremely important for Toogood that the roughness and irregularity of the materials are respected. Colours reminiscent of the English sky and the rusty tones that can be associated with the abandoned industry are typical of her colour palette. Toogood groups all her pieces in ‘Assemblages’ so that, when exhibited, they form a large entity and together they tell a story. Each ‘Assembly’ can be seen as a new project and for the designer a new project is a new opportunity to experiment with materials and processes. She also showed this in 2013 when she and her sister Erica founded the fashion brand Toogood. Toogood’s fourth ‘Assembly’ was named ‘Roly Poly Chair’ and was first presented at the Project B Gallery in Milan in 2014. This project includes a low chair, a high dining chair, a table and a sculptural daybed. With its soft lines and round shapes, ‘Assembly 4’ is in direct contrast to the previous project that evoked a post-industrial feeling and was much more aggressive. Toogood has retained the geometric elements from ‘Assembly 3’, but they have © Philip Sinden
only become rounder. The round shapes refer to her experience of pregnancy and the journey to motherhood. The pieces are first made of clay in order to obtain the right shape. Then they are made from a cream-coloured fibreglass. This technique is often used in boat production because it guarantees durability and strength. The chair, which is made in the soft tones of beige, cream and white, is often presented in combination with a hand-woven woollen blanket to create a contrast between the chair’s smoothness and the texture of the blanket. Toogood’s next ‘Assembly’ will revolve around playing and mud formation. The chairs in the ‘Roly Poly’ collection will be re-created, but this time in solid glass and with mud as a starting point. The chair also has a variant with upholstered cushions. For this, the designer worked together with Italian furniture manufacturer Driade. This collection was also supplemented by a sofa that further develops the ‘Roly Poly’ aesthetics. Roly Poly is therefore much more than just a chair, it is a story that is reflected in the shapes and textures of a unique collection designed by Faye Toogood. IMAGICASA | 35
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