Inside-OUT | BassamFellows' Craftsman Modern Aesthetic

INSIDE-OUT

BassamFellows introduces a sleek new indoor-outdoor collection to complement an entire portfolio reflecting the company’s “Craftsman Modern” aesthetic. BY ROGER GRODY

FURNITURE MANUFACTURER BassamFellows is headquartered near the architecturally notable community of New Canaan, Connecticut, where the Bauhaus movement took root in America and the site of Philip Johnson’s iconic Glass House. The “Craftsman Modern” aesthetic developed by Australian architect Craig Bassam and American creative director Scott Fellows suits Los Angeles, whose residential heritage is shaped by both traditional and contemporary styles.

“For us, Louis Kahn is a continual source of inspiration,” says Bassam. “He mixed traditional materials like brick, stone and wood with modern materials such as glass, concrete and steel for the perfect balance of opposites." Bassam notes that the architect’s projects were extremely detail-oriented.

Says Fellows of the Tractor Stool, the partners’ first signature product, “We liked the functionality of the tractor seat, designed over 100 years ago to provide comfort without the need for a back."

The idea of reimagining the tractor seat was not original, but Bassam and Fellows were the first to artistically carve it from a solid block of wood. Their stillpopular Tractor Stool represents that elusive balancing of opposites: minimal design versus traditional, warm materials; handcraftsmanship versus industrial production; functionalist simplicity versus meticulous detail.

The new Rail collection from BassamFellows was originally designed for a pool pavilion in New Canaan, but the indoor-outdoor lifestyle it accommodates has

greater utility in L.A. Rail system pieces are framed in horizontal planes (“rails”), available in iroko, a durable African hardwood. The furniture is upholstered in a hemp-based performance fabric—UV-resistant as well as soft to the touch—from a 150-year-old Italian mill.

“Rail is rooted in the Arts & Crafts movement, but is lighter, more sculptural and more pared down, continuing our commitment to our minimal artisanal vision of 'Craftsman Modern,’” explains Bassam. The collection represents a high-performance solution to the need to

endure outdoor elements, whether Northeast rains or, in Southern California, the scorching sun. “Rail is the perfect anchor to any space, creating a balance of architectural rigor with sculptural, organic silhouettes.”

The firm is obsessed with handcraftsmanship, Fellows says. “For all of our products, we slow things down and return to something ... more considered, which takes a little bit more time.” Its rare calf leather from France is sourced from a tannery with a 16th-century heritage.

The Daybed, another BassamFellows signature, is partially inspired by daybeds from Mies van der Rohe, Charlotte Perriand and Hans Wegner, the partners’ modernist heroes. “Ours is distinguished by a solid wood frame by expert cabinetmakers using buttersoft leathers from the finest tanneries in Scandinavia,” Fellows explains.

A Wood Frame Lounge series was originally designed for British Airways’ first-class lounges. Its deconstructed traditional lounge seating exposes wood frames that suggest fine cabinetry and thin, layered cushions for comfort.

“We think a lot about who we’re designing for—and ultimately, we design products for ourselves,” says Bassam. “In doing so, we’ve found many other likeminded people who appreciate the beauty of proportion, meticulous craftsmanship and high-quality materials.”

BassamFellows furniture is available locally at the eponymous showroom/atelier of designer Una Malan in the La Cienega Design Quarter.

BassamFellows, bassamfellows.com. Una Malan, 800 N. La Cienega Blvd., L.A., 310.734.7077, unamalan.com