What a surprise: Last year, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec created the office swivel chair “Uncino” for Mattiazzi, the “Officina” work-top for Magis and only in February presented the extensive “Kaari” line for shelves and tables for Artek in Stockholm, they’ve now conjured up something for Vitra: “Belleville”. And it’s a bit like the Bouroullec quintessence for the dining room. To date, the brothers have already realized ideas for the most social of spaces in the home – for Magis and for Hay. And now they’ve done the same for one of their major patrons, with whom they have collaborated since the beginning of their careers.

The chair’s fine, fragile silhouette is reminiscent of the 1950s French fashion drawings or calligraphic exercises. Indeed, it is the elegant zest that characterizes the “Belleville” models and which seems to set them dancing. And it’s certainly light enough, be it with or without armrests, as it’s made of a polyamide frame with seating shells made of the same material, of wafer-thin plywood, optionally covered with fabric or leather. The Bouroullecs have combined wood and plastic here in a manner as unconventional as it is new. Added to which, “Belleville” is stacking and therefore can be stored flexibly and without using up much space. There are two tables, small and round and with star-bases for a bistro or large, rectangular and set in pairs for more opulent meals. The legs are cast in black-lacquered aluminum so that both models stand with great gravitas firmly on the ground and can safely and sturdily bear the load of tops made of artificial resin, wood or stone.

This is evidently a very personal design as can be seen alone from the name “Belleville”, which is the name of the district in northeast Paris where Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec have their studio.

www.vitra.com

Vitra
Salone Internazionale del Mobile
April 14-19, 2015
Milan, Rho trade-fair complex
Hall 20, booth C05/D10