Magazine T : Autumn / Winter 2023 by TECTONA

Autumn/ Winter 2023

TECTONA & YOUNG DESIGN

The Design Parade, Villa Noailles

Dialogues

WORKSHOP SECRETS

Soleil collection by Martin Szekely BEAUTIFUL ALL YEAR ROUND

L'étang de Launay, Varengeville-sur-Mer ELEGANCE À LA FRANÇAISE

Christophe Delcourt & Tectona

E D I TO R I A L

Dialogues This sixth edition of T magazine is dedicated to the dialogues that Tectona has had with not only design but also culture and the history of gardens. These three worlds have been a touchstone for our furniture for nearly 50 years. Our commitment to young designers has been reinforced this year with the creation of Prix Tectona, a prize to be awarded every year to the winner of a competition organised at Villa Noailles as part of Design Parade. This year’s brief was to design an outdoor armchair meeting the durability criteria championed by Tectona. The winners of the inaugural competition, Lucien Dumas and Lou-Poko Savadogo, imagined an armchair in the Tectona spirit, enriched by a combination of acacia and ash, assembled by hemp straps and pine tar. We visited the mountain palace Airelles Courchevel, which selected the 1800 collection for its balconies and its spa. This iconic Tectona collection continues to spread far and wide in the most prestigious settings. Our special relationship with designers extends to our workshops. Case in point: the Soleil collection by Martin Szekely is fabricated in Vosges where traditional cabinetmaking know-how is combined with the precision of digital tools.

Glenwood bench

We spoke with Chiara Parisi, director of Centre Pompidou-Metz, about the refurbishment of Jardin Sud entrusted to Gilles Clément and featuring wooden architecture by Shigeru Ban. In this environment, the Batten collection by Thinkk Studio in solid teak blends in naturally. We’ve shared many of our favourite gardens with readers but Étang de Launay in Varengeville-sur-Mer, created by Jean-Louis Dantec, is unique in that it’s beautiful twelve months of the year. Here, trees and bushes, some quite rare, form constantly changing scenes with the seasons, whether via their styling, their flowering, the diversity of their leaves or the remarkable bark in winter. With regard to design, Christophe Delcourt looks back over twenty-two years of collaborating with Tectona. From the start, there was a synergy between his creative work and our values. He has a passion for our traditional techniques, which manifests as furniture that is imbued with a softness thanks to curved lines and is also comfortable thanks to generous seats and backrests. The style reflects French elegance, both classic and contemporary. Finally, take a look at our furniture selection for keeping you warm during autumn-winter 2023!

L E T ' S TA L K D E S I G N

At Villa Noailles

Design Parade during

Tectona shows its commitment to young design

By Marie Godfrain Photographs by Arthur Crestani and Luc Bertrand Every year since its inception in 2006, the Design Parade festival has rewarded young design professionals. In launching a new prize this year, Tectona is proud to become part of the festival.

he origins of Villa Noailles, a renowned arts centre, date back exactly a century when Marie-Laure and Charles de Noailles commissioned architect Robert Mallet-Stevens to build an immense modernist concrete 'ocean liner ' on the higher parts of Hyères, a historic city on the French Riviera. Jean-Pierre Blanc, the centre’s director, reminds us that Charles de Noailles was a connoisseur of gardens and “so it seemed logical to us to tie up with the leading brand in the outdoor sector ”. In the same vein, Blanche Aloisi - de Crépy, director of Tectona, says: “We feel that we’re on exactly the same wavelength as Villa Noailles. We share a steadfast commitment to design”. From this meeting of minds sprang the Tectona prize, which every year will award €5000 to the winner along with the possibility of seeing their project brought to market. The prize is part of Tectona’s commitment to furthering design.

The armchair designed by Materra-Matang. Winner of the inaugural Design Parade Tectona prize.

L E T ' S TA L K D E S I G N

“DESIGNERS ARE INTEGRAL TO OUR IDENTITY”

nd this is how designer Christophe Delcourt (see page 25) was spotted when the first competition was held in 2000. A few years later, to mark forty years of existence, Tectona held an international competition, which was won by the Batten collection by the Thai duo Thinkk Studio. More recently, five years ago, Tectona teamed up with ECAL for the refurbishment of Musée Picasso, and the benches by Isabelle Baudraz were selected. The latest project concerns the refurbishment of Plateforme 10, the new cultural hub in Lausanne; following a competition, the seating was entrusted to Pierre Charpin. “We are close to these designers and this is part of our approach in bringing together all talents, whether young or experienced. These designers have become integral to our identity and some of their creations have become classics. Sometimes a fascinating alchemy emerges and we are always receptive to the languages designers bring us” notes Blanche Aloisi - de Crépy, who admits to having been pleasantly surprised by the quality of the prototypes. From nine finalists, the model in acacia and ash designed by Lucien Dumas and Lou-Poko Savadogo was selected by the Design Parade jury presided by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, who shared their reasoning: “We were impressed by the relevance of their choices related to the wood, notably local sourcing, an artisanal approach and alpine techniques. We would be very interested in seeing the outcomes of this project if further developed with and by Tectona”.

ACACIA AND THERMALLY MODIFIED ASH

he Materra-Matang studio consists of architects and cabinetmakers and seeks to bring together furniture, architecture and craftsmanship based on a mastery of local timber. In relation to this last point, the studio said, “ This project represented a challenge because there are few French timbers that withstand the elements. We wanted to look beyond exotic wood and varnished wood, which is why we decided to combine water-resistant acacia with thermally modified ash. Ash modified this way is rotproof and generally used for outdoor decking and construction. We wanted to transfer this know-how to furniture”. Using this material as a starting point the duo also incorporated a 'pincer ' structure with parts joined by hemp straps and by pine tar, a traditional maritime technique. For the duo, this prototype is a reflection, the starting point for a collection made from these three natural materials. As for the Tectona teams, they were very satisfied with this project which met the initial brief: “We had asked our finalists to come up with seating that is practicable, comfortable, stackable, sturdy and of reasonable cost. Lou-Poko and Lucien not only met these criteria but used an artisanal approach respectful of the environment”. In short, this is a win-win project and a milestone in Tectona’s ongoing investment in the contemporary design ecosystem.

Lucien Dumas (standing) and Lou-Poko Savadogo (seated), founders of the Materra-Matang workshop.

O U R P L AC E S O F E N C H A N T M E N T

Airelles

Courchevel

A snow-covered cocoon By Dany Sautot Photographs by Manon Delaune and Jules Camos Tectona invites readers to the enchanting surroundings of Airelles Courchevel, a jewel in the crown of the French hotel sector, bestowed five stars and the prestigious “Mountain Palace” distinction.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN AN ENCHANTED KINGDOM… This could be the opening of the story of Airelles Courchevel. The architectural gem, perched at an altitude of 1850 metres in the heart of Jardin Alpin and its spruce forest, looks like something out of a fairy tale set in a 19 th -century AustroHungarian castle. Flanked by towers and turrets, the palace also features breathtaking facades adorned with frescos in pastel tones and balconies in finely crafted wood.

WINTER, HIGH SEASON FOR AIRELLES COURCHEVEL The palace is open four months every year, coming to life in December amid the immaculate white landscape. At sunrise, guests vie to be the first to step on the untouched pistes. This is just one of the many activities to be enjoyed at Airelles Courchevel, along with others such as exploring the mountain’s paths in a dog sled or discovering the streets of Courchevel aboard a traditional horse-drawn carriage. From the leisurely pace of snowshoe hikes to the dizzying speeds on the ski slopes, or the helicopter ride where you can enjoy stunning vistas of Saulire, the highest point of the resort, and the majesty of the Vanoise, Écrins and Mont-Blanc glaciers, Airelles Courchevel offers an unforgettable experience in the heart of the largest skiable zone in the world.

Low Armchair — 1800 collection

O U R P L AC E S O F E N C H A N T M E N T

LUXURIOUSLY INTIMATE Founded in 1992 by Raymonde Fenestraz, the hotel was transformed in 2007 by the interior designer Christophe Tollemer. Both welcoming and refined, the ambiance sublimates the spirit of a “winter home” with extreme refinement present in every detail. Amid the noble materials worked by the most talented craftspeople in Europe, you will feel privileged to be staying in such an exquisite setting dedicated to beauty and excellence. The tailor-made tapestries are by Laligant, the brocades by the world-renowned Venetian house Rubelli, the furniture by Laval, the large traditional woodburning stove in the hall was cast in Austria and all the wood was crafted by the Swiss house Fournier.

www.airelles.com Sun loungers — 1800 collection

THE 1800 COLLECTION IN YOUR IMAGE Naturally, the 1800 collection by Tectona is to be found in the hotel’s balconies and luxury spa “La Mer ”. Its classic design is given a modern makeover by the colours and motifs of the fabric covering the armchair cushions and the mattresses of the sun loungers. An inspired choice that blends in with the intimate balconies and the profound sense of wellbeing permeating the spa.

LOW ARMCHAIR 1800 COLLECTION 81 × 91 cm

SUN LOUNGER 1800 COLLECTION 220 × 75 cm

ROUND COFFEE TABLE ARMCHAIR 1800 COLLECTION 1800 COLLECTION Ø 60 cm 56 × 53 cm

Armchairs — 1800 collection

OUR KNOW-HOW

Fabrication

Secrets

Soleil, a high-precision collection

In 2022, Tectona launched the Soleil collection by Martin Szekely, a world-renowned designer whose work has been inextricably linked to the history of French design for several decades. T magazine went to Vosges to follow the fabrication of the collection step by step.

LARCH, NATURALLY DURABLE A conifer native to temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere, larch is traditionally used in wooden frameworks and cladding where it can withstand the rigours of exposure to air: sunshine, rain, ice, temperature variations and mould have no effect. The artisans of wood, woodworkers and cabinetmakers, prize larch for its luminosity and the beauty of its grain but also its density and hardness, characteristics attributable to the very slow growth rate. It is a class 4 wood and does not require chemical treatment. Over time, it develops an attractive silver patina. In view of these qualities, comparable to those of teak, Tectona selected larch for this first collection by Martin Szekely. The choice is also in line with our desire to use shorter chains between forest resources and the site of wood processing.

A CAREFUL SELECTION PROCESS When cut, larch reveals very closely arranged growth rings and numerous knots, which calls for a very rigorous selection process, particularly for the fabrication of Soleil. Every constituent piece is solid larch from the heartwood worked in large sections to achieve the highest quality. The final pattern of veins and knots brings out the full beauty of untreated wood.

OUR KNOW-HOW

DIGITAL TOOLS AND ARTISAN KNOW-HOW The design of the Soleil collection relies on the constituent parts being assembled with absolute precision. Here traditional work by woodworkers and cabinetmakers is aided by digital tools which allow for highly precise machining so that all parts fit together perfectly.

AT THE HEART OF FABRICATION Computer-assisted planing is used to ensure perfect alignment of the slats in the coffee table, the footrest and the seat and backrest of the armchair. However they are still assembled manually, using mortise-and-tenon joints or fluted dowels. The wood artisans also carry out the sanding procedures to eliminate all splinters and sharp projecting edges and perform final adjustments.

SOME FIGURES The Soleil collection requires six assembly stages rather than the usual two or three. The low armchair consists of 56 wooden constituent parts and 74 joints, either mortise-and-tenon or fluted dowel, while the coffee table has 48 parts; three to four times more parts as used in standard armchairs and coffee tables.

MARTIN SZEKELY ON THE SOLEIL COLLECTION “An 'haute couture' creation that called on the talents of experienced and knowledgeable people and was designed to be durable. This project allowed me to feel invigorated once again by the trade I learnt in cabinetmaking workshops when I was a young man. The etymology of menuiserie is 'small jobs' or 'pieces made from delicate wood'”.

ARMCHAIR SOLEIL COLLECTION 66 × 84 cm

FOOTREST SOLEIL COLLECTION 59 × 49 cm

Armchair, footrest and coffee table — Soleil collection

RECTANGULAR COFFEE TABLE SOLEIL COLLECTION 140 × 74 cm

C U LT U R E

Centre

Pompidou - Metz

By Fabrice Bousteau Photographs by Marc Domage Rome-born Chiara Parisi, art historian, exhibition curator and director of Centre PompidouMetz, has a sunny nature, like the joyful lilt in her voice. At the Centre International d’Art et de Paysage de l’île de Vassivière, at the Monnaie de Paris, at Nuit Blanche events in Paris and at Villa Medici, her exhibitions have never failed to surprise, provoke and delight!

How did the partnership between Centre Pompidou-Metz and Tectona come about? In autumn 2022, we asked world-renowned gardener, botanist, biologist and landscape gardener Gilles Clément to imagine the south garden of Centre Pompidou-Metz, which is in the middle of a highly urbanised environment. All the slabs in the garden were eliminated in order to encourage rich biodiversity and abundant vegetation and to create a tranquil haven in dialogue with the wooden architecture of Shigeru Ban. A “garden in movement” in conversation with art. To allow

everyone to enjoy the garden, architects Shigeru Ban and Jean de Gastines themselves chose Tectona’s teak furniture because it provides a visual link with the wooden frame structure of the museum and furthermore the careful design of the chairs and benches fits in with the architectural style. And last but not least, Tectona furniture can withstand the elements, sunshine and continuous use by visitors! What kind of atmosphere does the garden exude? It’s a landscape in movement, as described by Gilles Clément, a garden landscape full of emotion and bathed in a strange ‘golden’ light,

which is due to the Jaumont stone sourced from Moselle. In combination with the flora —trees, plants and colourful flowers— and the colour of the Tectona furniture, you experience the awe that comes from witnessing a stunning sunset, whatever the time of day! It’s a magical experience that invites visitors to take a siesta, to enjoy a meal, to read, to daydream. Our public embrace the art of farniente. A museum has to be a place where you can not only visit exhibitions but also somewhere where you can wander around, dream, admire the architecture, enjoy the design.

Centre Pompidou-Metz © Shigeru Ban Architects Europe and Jean de Gastines Architectes, with Philip Gumuchdjian for the design of the winning competition project / Metz Métropole / Centre Pompidou-Metz / Photo by Marc Domage

C U LT U R E

Low armchairs — Batten collection

If you had to suggest an artist to create an installation or work of art using Tectona furniture, who would it be and what would the brief be? Without a shadow of a doubt, Maurizio Cattelan! He is passionate about design; even before becoming an artist he ran a design gallery. He’d create something disruptive

on which we would of course be able to sit… but not chairs. Maybe a table whose legs are chairs in reverse, or something else as crazy, playful and unexpected as only Maurizio can imagine! Which Tectona chair or armchair do you prefer? The armchair of the new Soleil collection created by

the incredible Martin Szekely is a delight. It is indeed, in the words of this worldfamous designer known for his extremely refined style, a “haute couture work”. Use of larch, a rare wood, in the slats makes me think of natural shadows cast by the sun! And in passing I’m also in love with the Tectona hammock, ideal for farniente!

C U LT U R E

Bench — Tecto collection

LOW ARMCHAIR BATTEN COLLECTION 72 × 64 cm

BENCH TECTO COLLECTION 180 × 68 cm

G A R D E N S W E LOV E

Étang de Launay A botanist's wonderland in Varengeville-sur-Mer By Alyette Debray-Mauduy Photographs by Alexandre Anagnostides

A garden has to be beautiful twelve months of the year. Such is the mantra of former antique dealer Jean-Louis Dantec who designed and fashioned Étang de Launay, a 7-hectare estate containing thousands of rare and spectacular species. At Tectona, we have a longstanding interest in gardens so after learning about the level of passion deployed to create this one, T magazine had to go there!

G A R D E N S W E LOV E

FINDING INSPIRATION IN THE BEAUTIFUL To set the scene: imagine a village of 990 souls in the Seine-Maritime département in Normandy bathed in an extensive palette of pastoral greens and white dabs from the English Channel, a setting that since the 19 th century has inspired painters such as Monet, Braque and Auburtin. For botanophiles, it is the European capital of gardens. Ten parks, each exceptional in its own right, are waiting to be discovered amid the labyrinthine streets of Varengeville-sur-Mer: Le Bois des Moutiers, a veritable plant museum recently bought by Jérôme Seydoux, who entrusted its renovation to Madison Cox; Le Vastérival, owned by Princess Greta Sturdza, who in her lifetime spread her love of botany to many of the villagers, inspiring vocations.

COLLECTING PLANTS Unsurprisingly given his profession, Jean-Louis Dantec has a talent for building up collections. Here he has gathered thousands of species: more than 250 magnolias; Stewartia plants; Gunera manicata, a plant native to South America and iconic to Varengeville-sur-Mer and whose giant leaves cover nearly all the ponds; woody plants, of which Jean-Louis Dantec has one of the largest collections, which includes Betula albosinensis, Arbutus menziesii, paperbark maples, Jacquemontii birches whose bark peels off in small parchment-like strips. Importantly though, high quantity does not mean high density. “Size is critical”, adds our guide. “Otherwise, it’s no longer a garden but nature, quite simply. You have to know how to not plant too much, to keep spaces empty so that the eye doesn’t tire and can see the blue of the sky. There is nothing more artificial than a garden, even if it’s natural”.

FASHIONING THE EARTH One of these villagers was art dealer Jean-Louis Dantec, a longtime resident at Louvre des Antiquaires who for over 30 years has been fashioning his own mini Eden at a property belonging to his wife’s family. In the beginning, in 1990, there was only an expanse of pasture and marsh. To create a terrain where plants would thrive, he drained the land, created ponds, constructed natural windbreaks by planting rows of yew trees… Although Jean-Louis Dantec had some knowledge of landscape gardening, he is essentially an aesthete so he turned to a close friend for her gardening nous: Princess Sturdza. “With so many gardens around, there is ample source of inspiration”, he said. “To learn you have to visit museums, and as a plant museum, Varengeville is unique”. Next… “Seventeen years of bulldozers and diggers”.

SUMPTUOUS VISTA To enjoy the view of his vale, a scene that could inspire the greatest landscape artists, Jean-Louis Dantec built a designer house featuring large bay windows and a panoramic terrace, furnished with Tectona furniture. The high point of the year is autumn, during which the several Japanese maple trees he planted, along with Liquidambars and Taxodiums reveal a dazzling array of yellows, reds and oranges. The colour palette is worthy of a Master’s painting and unfolds in two or three waves, until the leaves fall towards the end of November. “Here, it’s the intensity of Canada but more subtle”, concludes Jean-Louis Dantec.

French elegance according to

L E T ' S TA L K D E S I G N

Interview by Marie Godfrain Portrait photograph by Grégoire Alexandre Christophe Delcourt, a creator of timeless design, is one of the greatest ambassadors of French elegance. His longstanding collaboration with Tectona, 22 years and counting, has helped to define a comfortable and timeless outdoor lifestyle.

How did your collaboration with Tectona begin?

How did you change perceptions?

The Tectona team approached me to invite me to participate in a design competition. I really liked the brand, which I already knew for their circular teak bench, and I also appreciated their image, their aura. At the time, Tectona was one of the rare players active in the outdoor market. Even though I didn’t win the competition, Arnaud Brunel, the president of Tectona, phoned me and invited me to work on the contents of the catalogue… Since then we’ve regularly collaborated.

We worked together on exclusive models and on a line that would give the brand a firm footing in modernity. I’m fascinated by wood and I designed several models using this material; in all cases, use and comfort were the cornerstones. Why are you fascinated by wood?

What were your first impressions? I immediately appreciated the family orientation of the company: minimal contact points and direct interactions meant that we could advance rapidly. Such communication is essential for my work.

Bridge armchair — Exeter collection

We know where it comes from, how it gets to us and how to recycle it when it uses mortice and tenon joints, a technique that requires very little metal. I live in Normandy, land of water and wood is truly the raw material that forms the best patina. The colour becomes more beautiful, it’s very easy to care for… Wood is perfectly suited to all climates.

L E T ' S TA L K D E S I G N

Can you describe the collections that you imagined for Tectona?

The collections remain in the catalogue after all these years…

With the Somerset collection, I wanted to demonstrate that wood could be comfortable and modern. I wanted to work the garden bench in a different way, to achieve comfort through the seating’s curve. For Exeter, I imagined a light stackable chair of fluid design, something that didn’t exist at the time. Lightness is a key value because it seems to me that modernity in gardens is the possibility of moulding perceptions, the exact opposite of static furniture. I wanted to rid the outdoors of its stuffy academic image.

I share Tectona’s quest for timelessness: the idea isn’t for a given collection to replace another one. I advocate for an aesthetic as durable as possible and so I’m happy to have created a strong foundation for the Tectona catalogue. I like to take my time doing things… Together we are redefining classics, a contemporary French style. It’s never about designers putting on a performance.

LOW ARMCHAIR SOMERSET/EXETER COLLECTION 70 × 70 cm

BENCH SOMERSET/EXETER COLLECTION 180 × 70 cm

Bench and Low armchair — Somerset/Exeter collection

C L A S S I C C O N T E M P O R A RY

Our

autumn/winter selection

BIBLOS BOOKCASE

Drawing inspiration from ancient Egypt, Biblos takes the form of an obelisk and at the same time pays tribute to the famous library of Alexandria. The bookcase is mounted on castors and turns about its axis, enabling easy access to any of the four sides. From the base to the peak, which is crowned by a mini pyramid, books of all sizes are accommodated, from pocket-sized novels to largeformat art books. Satin-varnished teak. BOOKCASE 61 × 205 cm

.02 ALADIN CHEST

.01

Featuring silicone joints for watertightness and a key-operated lock, the Aladin chest is the perfect guardian for your covers, cushions and other accessories to your outdoor lifestyle. Furthermore, a mechanism for holding the lid open ensures that it doesn’t close violently. Teak.

RECTANGULAR CHEST 132 × 74 cm

.03

C L A S S I C C O N T E M P O R A RY

GLENWOOD ARMCHAIR The wide deep seat, the large backrest and the gently curved armrests make this a very comfortable armchair! Inspired by traditional English furniture, it owes its unwavering stability to the techniques employed: legs cut from a single block of teak and use of dowelled mortise and tenon joints. Teak.

ARMCHAIR 58 × 64 cm

MARLY BENCH

.04

This bench is a living testament to French garden arts, having featured in the authoritative 18 th -century treatise L’Art du menuisier. Elegant touches include the sculpted balusters adorning the backrest and the mouldings at the extremities of the S-arched armrests. Ideal comfort is procured by the generous dimensions of the seat and the backrest. A classic. Teak. BENCH 240 × 62 cm

Where to find

Tectona !

France

Switzerland

Spain

Italy

All countries

Stores

Internet

Paris 36 rue du Bac 75007 Paris Tel. +33 1 47 03 38 05 paris@tectona.fr

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Lyon 8 rue Antoine de Saint Exupéry 69002 Lyon Tel. +33 4 78 37 05 05 lyon@tectona.fr

Vallauris 3015 chemin Saint-Bernard 06225 Vallauris Tel. +33 4 92 96 92 29 vallauris@tectona.fr

Store

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Mail order

Nyon Avenue Viollier 4 1260 Nyon Tél. +41 22 700 10 10 suisse@tectona.ch

www.tectona.ch suisse@tectona.ch

Phone +41 22 700 10 10

Store

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Mail order

Madrid Calle de Claudio Coello 22 28001 Madrid Tel. +34 91 781 18 45 madrid@tectona.es

www.tectona.es madrid@tectona.es

Phone +34 91 781 18 45

Store

Internet

Mail order

Milano Via della Moscova 47/A 20121 Milan Tel. +39 02 65 34 23 milano@tectona.it

www.tectona.it milano@tectona.it

Phone +39 02 65 34 23

Internet

Mail order

www.tectona.fr info@tectona.fr

Phone +33 1 47 03 05 05

www.tectona.fr info@tectona.fr

Mail order Phone +33 1 47 03 05 05 Mail 36 rue du Bac 75007 Paris

Mail 36 rue du Bac 75007 Paris France