INTRIGUING SOLUTION
Castle Line Outdoor is synonymous with teak.
Since Brussels, this has been joined by aluminium. You can see the exterior and interior worlds changing and merging. Outdoor living is morphing into a view of the outdoors. The garden room is hot stuff! Climate concerns and the public’s taste for design have put aluminium on the map. Castle Line has eliminated a troublesome technical requirement — with a stylish design innovation.
Teak has been a fast favourite for outdoor living for several summers now: in the garden, on the terrace, and on the patio. Aluminium’s star is now firmly in the ascendant. In Brussels, Castle Line presented its aluminium design range: partly a copy and paste of teak top sellers. It’s a strange sensation: a déjà & jamais vu. Anyone familiar with the tried-and-tested teak collection will recognise the design — that’s it, that’s all. The material switch transforms the style, the mood, and the identity of the model. Can you see it: the striking kidney-shaped coffee table in teak (Ambon) or in aluminium (Nimbo)? Teak exudes strength, has a classic, timeless character. Aluminium has a sophisticated allure, and creates a clean, minimal design.
The collection began with the recycling, or rather upcycling of favourite models. And pretty soon, brand-new designs emerged. Castle Line developed the aluminium into a spin-off collection: for seating, dining & lounging. The reactions in Brussels to the latest models were ‘unequivocally enthusiastic and positive’.
This popularity doesn’t simply fall from the sky: for many practical and maintenance purposes, aluminium scores higher than teak. Fair’s fair: the first thing that charms you is a model’s appearance, the modern design style. Aluminium offers far more creative freedom in terms of design. The eye-catcher at the fair? The Clocks tables with their ‘split’ conical column leg. A conical shape would normally be welded shut, with the inevitable slag and other irregularities along the weld seam. Not optimal if you’re aiming for a sleek design. Castle Line has found an aesthetically pleasing solution to this technically troublesome element: the vertical groove. Straight away, you catch a glimpse of the leg’s slender wall. The slim design chimes perfectly with the ‘garden room’ hype. You can see this playing out all around you: the addition of verandas, the covering of terraces and pergolas. There is always a view of greenery, whether it’s scorching hot outside or pouring with rain. Aluminium furniture is a better fit in these ‘green’ living spaces.
Alongside the design look, other practical points play a role. Aluminium is lighter, more user-friendly, and more sustainable than plantation teak. In this case, the ecological advantage goes hand in hand with a price advantage. This of course is a welcome added extra!
Castle Line has made the full journey from 100% teak via stone, ceramic and metal to 100% aluminium. You can take things in any direction: classic natural teak, modern aluminium design, or a mix of these materials/styles.
