Canadian Philippe Malouin inserted himself into the factory production line to create Movements, an interactive installation presented at the Milan Furniture Fair 2015. Alice Blackwood visited the grand palace, Palazzo Serbelloni, where the exhibition was held.
May 19th, 2015
If the splendidly decorated ballroom of the Palazzo Serbelloni wasn’t breathtaking enough, it was the discovery of a massive swing set featuring Caesarstone seats. It stretched the length of the ballroom, maintaining a studied air of nonchalance while also appearing extremely inviting to those who wandered into the ornate and cavernous space.
Visitors would quicken their step as the surprise swing set came into sight, grabbing their mobile phones to snap delirious shots mid-flight as they whizzed through the still air. Designer and Caesarstone collaborator Philippe Malouin had created that memorable Milan moment.
But this unique installation was more than just Insta-friendly wow factor. It was about disrupting the traditional making process of a material and contradicting assumed product applications.
“I think adapting materials and transformation techniques that are not meant to be used in certain applications is what inspires me,” says Malouin, who has a special talent for sharing the thinking behind his working process. “Taking something out of context and applying it to a different object can be very interesting and brings a spark of creativity to begin with.”
The swing set gave form to this manner of thinking – as did the second, more static component of Malouin’s presentation with Caesarstone: a handmade set of 20 planters that documented Malouin’s process of experimentation with Caesarstone’s surface material and technique.
Modern and geometric in their design, the collection uses unexpected techniques to test the material’s versatility, mixing it up even further using Caesarstone colour options.
Working within an industrial environment, (where Malouin seems most at home), Malouin and studio ‘inserted’ themselves within the factory production line, manually transforming the pieces using stone carving, inlaying, cutting, grinding and texturing.
As Malouin describes it, designing by making was at the heart of this project. “The process is always much more interesting than the product itself,” he says of his unique working process. For him it’s “about making a discovery – a very small discovery – that will influence the rest of the design of the object.” In the case of Movements, small discoveries have led to big results.
Movements was presented at Milan Furniture Fair in April this year.
Images by Tom Mannion
Caesarstone
caesarstone.com.au
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Lizzy Stageman blends ancestral wisdom with artistry to reveal grand life stories in her contemporary Aboriginal designs. ‘Finding My Place’ transforms her original art into captivating commercial textiles, wall coverings & acoustic art.
Viccarbe’s design furniture concepts draw inspiration from the vibrant spirit of Valencia and have revolutionised interiors across the globe. Featuring celebrated designers such as John Pawson and internationally acclaimed collections, Viccarbe offers a contemporary perspective on modern commercial and residential spaces.
Caesarstone explores the boundaries of reality with an exceptional new addition to its Mineral Surface collection that blends airy lightness with sustainable performance.
To celebrate the launch of its new Porcelain and Pebbles collections, Caesarstone has hosted a webinar. Watch Li Edelkoort on future directions in living. Learn about the new Caesarstone products, and hear from Indesign’s Alice Blackwood on modern living led by locality, wellbeing and ecological influences.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
Woods Bagot has breathed new life into Sydney’s historic Transport House, fashioning it into a dynamic workplace complete with its very own bar.
Health precincts are complicated, multi-dimensional places to develop, design, deliver and operate, writes Hassell’s Ben Rees. So, “how do we balance commercial imperatives with the need to foster connection, community and wellbeing?”
Geyer was tasked with redesigning CUE’s leading Melbourne store and the response is all about curves, green tones and giving garments the space to shine.