Along with the commemoration of the 50 years since Le Corbusier passed away, this year Cassina celebrates the 50th anniversary of the famous LC collection with a series of cultural events and product innovations. This includes the new ‘Poetique Reaction’ collection by Spanish designer, Jaime Hayón, currently presented at Milan Design Week.

The Reaction Poetique range includes a series of wooden side tables and trays, inspired by Le Corbusier’s architectural practice and principles.

“I wanted to create useful objects for the modern home such as trays and side tables but with sculptural elements, interplaying forms, light and shadow”, explains Hayón.

The round table curves resemble the organic forms of iconic buildings by Le Corbusier such as Ronchamp Chapel (1950-1954) and the government buildings at the Indian city of Chandigarh (1952-1959).

Moreover, Hayón has placed the tables tops on chunky rounded bases, a similar practice of Le Corbusier who would often lift the bulk of his structures off the ground, supported by pilotis or reinforced concrete stilts, as demonstrated in his Villa Savoye (1929-31). This structural feature is particularly evident in the low kidney-bean-shaped table that sits on seven cylindrical posts.

Finally four of the tables feature different thick handles, some mounted as a cross on the top and others rounded.

All seven pieces are entirely made from solid ash, stained black with a low gloss finish and are hand-carved by Cassina’s carpenters.

“It was a very strict, almost religious challenge to use only one material and one finish, exercising my design philosophy,” Hayón explains. “I feel this restriction actually became an opportunity to showcase the beauty of the wood.” As such the collection remains true to Cassina’s well-established heritage in carpentry and combining skilled craftsmanship with industrial innovation.

The Reaction Poetique Collection is branded with the Cassina logo and accompanied by its own identify card to guaranty the authenticity of each single piece.

As an exclusively limited edition, Cassina furthermore launches a wooden bird, bird’s cage and swing, carved from a tree that Le Corbusier planted decades ago. As the tree was dying, Cassina decided to use the timber for something truly special. The bird, bird’s cage and swing are each available in 100 unique pieces only.

During Milan Design Week Cassina also shows a documentary titled Le Corbusier 50, Stories of Encounters that have Revolutionised Design at the adjacent stand.

Cassina is available from Cult in Australia. Please visit here for more information about their Cassina range. 

Article courtesy of CULT
Photography courtesy of CULT

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