BE OPEN BLOG

Aluminium is the softest of the metals but it has a certain duality and a kind of contradiction in itself. It is stiff while it is soft, it is simultaneously matte and shiny, it has a little bit of roughness and a bit of luxury. Designers use aluminium to create mono-material furniture pieces that are sculptural, playful and practical.

South Korean design studio Niceworkshop creates furniture from salvaged aluminium formwork (AL-FORM) used to pour concrete in the construction of skyscrapers. Aptly named Aluminium Formwork, the collection is manufactured by recycling brand Format. The family of its founder, Phillip Lee, has been making formwork for various types of concrete structures for architectural framing for over 50 years.

The formwork is often reused after removing surface concrete debris through shot blasting and flattening process. A concrete texture is formed on the surface of the recycled AL-FORM due to pouring and curing, traces of the concrete getting darker with every use. This allowed the team to introduce two ranges of the mono-material furniture with different texture effects.

While the Aged Form Line captures the enduring texture of concrete on the surface even after the repair process, the New Form Line employs new materials reproduced through a recycling process. The resulting pieces are bolted together for industrial feel.

Designer Sabine Marcelis wanted to use just one material to create a timeless design and she opted for aluminium for its recyclability. Created for the contemporary Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and produced by furniture brand BD Barcelona, her Stedelijk Chair on the one hand has a strong identity, but on the other hand is complimentary to the surroundings in will inhabit. Its iconic feature is its simplicity that allows the design to be implemented in many different settings throughout different eras.

Handmade aluminum flows from legs to backrest with a smooth cohesion that accentuates its materiality. Its flowing silhouette aims to compliment the smooth white form of the Stedelijk Museum’s exterior.

The chair is functional just as it is visually appealing. It is stackable, lightweight, responsibly produced, durable and recyclable, all of which is achieved through the use of aluminium.

Made entirely out of aluminium, designer Kiki Goti’s sculptural chair is an adaptive, multi-functional seating design that consists of two separate chairs that can fit into each other.

Dubbed OO+II Nested Chair, the design contrasts a sharp angular back with a curved, rounded seat. The user can choose to have one compact chair, or two different chairs (a tall chair and a stool), or a chair with a side table, or a chair and a footrest.

Each chair is offered in different finishes, creating a playful matrix of design options to choose from.