Strong Character

It all started with a meeting in Milan; during the bustle of the annual design week and the Salone del Mobile. David López Quincoces and Expormim began exploratory talks followed by further meetings until it was clear: They wanted to collaborate. Born in 1980, the designer already brought a considerable amount of professional experience to the table: After studying Art and Interior Design Quincoces spent many years developing projects with designer Piero Lissoni. Since 2008, he has together with Fanny Bauer Grund headed the architecture and design studio Quincoces-Dragò & Partners as well as the art gallery Six. “I think one of the most important things in our line of work is being well informed about aesthetics, history, and technologies. It enables you to incorporate all these different levels into the project and give the final product added value. It is not only about the composition chosen or a gesture, and rather also about understanding the clients’ needs and the history of the brand. This then enables you to develop a specific project or product for the brand that enhances both the range and its legacy,” he explains.

Rattan is firmly woven into the DNA of Expormim and its modern designs that feature the robust natural material. Quincoces used the latter to design the “Cadenza” collection comprising a loveseat, a three-seater sofa, an XL-sofa, and two armchairs, a collection that although only designed very recently already looks so familiar as if it had always been around. Vertically placed struts at different distances surrounding the seat cushion create a protective semicircle around the seated person. The straight lines and dynamic structure with different proportions provide a new look at this traditional craft through a contemporary lens. They also demonstrate Expormim’s great expertise in processing the lianas of the rotang palm into elegant furniture designs. At the base, the straight lines are complemented by gentle curves making for a pleasant contrast. From every angle the design of “Cadenza” reveals a new, striking silhouette. “The rattan is the main focus of the project; everything revolves around its flexibility and lightness. The idea was to create a sequence of rhythmic variations by applying different techniques to the material,” explains David López Quincoces.

With "Cadenza" he pays tribute to the artisanal skills of the Mediterranean region where Expormim was born, namely the district of La Costera in Valencia, which is largely predominated by agriculture, and has always specialized in the cultivation of wicker, esparto, and sugar cane. The farmers’ ability to produce items such as chairs, mats or baskets from the plants continues to inspire the family business to preserve this tradition and reaffirm its identity. “We like our furniture to speak for us. We want to express purity, simplicity, comfort, and an ethical approach in connection with our region. We want to help our clients to enjoy better lives and thrive on the way that nature changes through the seasons. And we want to promote products with a strong mediterranean character and spread the culture they embody,” reads a statement by Expormim.