Neri & Hu’s new collection for Poltrona Frau consists of five furniture with side profiles that draw inspiration from the Chinese character, ‘ren,’ which translates to person or human being.
June 9th, 2016
All images courtesy of Poltrona Frau
Shanghai-based design studio Neri & Hu has developed the Ren collection for Italian furniture maker Poltrona Frau. The Ren collection consists of five furniture pieces united by a humanistic structure. Each object features a side profile inspired by the Chinese character, ‘ren,’ which translates to ‘person and human being.’

Ren side table by Neri & Hu for Poltrona Frau
Objects conceived for the collection are hybrid in functionality and materiality. The collection consists of a standing mirror coat rack, side table, dressing table, wall-mounted mirror coat rack and valet stand. They can be used in a variety of spaces, be it the bedroom or study.
Each product is predominantly made of wood, with brass and leather accents. This material combination is used similarly and differently across the pieces.

Ren valet stand and dressing table by Neri & Hu for Poltrona Frau
For instance, the dressing table is composed of a table top that has been covered entirely in saddle leather, inside and outside. This feature is unique to the dressing table. However, it features a round mirror and key tray with curves that juxtapose the furniture’s straight frame – a design language that binds the collection.
The valet stand has a lower shelf support with a clothes hanger and key tray that hang from the upper crosspiece, creating an elegant notion of suspension.

Ren wall-mounted mirror rack by Neri & Hu for Poltrona Frau
The backstory of the collection revolves a study conducted by Neri & Hu on the home entryway – a space perceived as a border that separates the inside and outside, or the private and public domain. The home entryway is also deemed as an area where guests receive a first stylistic impression of the home. Neri & Hu designed the Ren collection to complement other furniture at home with a refined and discreet style.
Neri & Hu
en.neriandhu.com
Poltrona Frau is carried in Hong Kong by colourliving and ViA.
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