Mainstream & next-gen
A fresh iteration of Evergreens works wonders.
Re-designs, mainstream and next-gen designs complement one another. The symbolic number seven defines the natural flow in a bookcase. Cosiness means coffee time, with the cups stacking up by themselves. The anatomy of a skeleton reappears in a chair. First take it in, and only then sit down. In short, there is no shortage of novelties.
Everyone’s heard of Zuiver’s Lazy Sack and Summer Sofa. A restyling in a trending fabric and monochrome colour scheme brings them completely back up to date.
But there’s so much other news to share! The Oolong model with its round letters perfectly typifies the armchair. The flat frame (oak veneer) flows from leg to arm and back. The average backrest has been replaced by a cylindrical cushion. Tip: first look at the armchair from all sides, then sit down.
The catchy model names sound like titles for the story behind the product. Brew for the floor lamp refers to the stacks of coffee cups. Enjoying a moment to yourself. This also explains the latte colour.
For the Seven cabinet, it’s a question of counting curves. Its lines flow around seven bends. The direction is open, as you can position the Seven both horizontally and vertically. Tall cabinet becomes sideboard.
‘First look, then sit’ also holds true for the Babington chair from Dutchbone. The connection of the rear leg to the backrest is reminiscent of a skeleton; of the epiphysis, to be precise – the rounded shape of joint bones. What an idea: the anatomy of humans and animals as a natural source of inspiration.
Flora and landscapes are often referenced. Take the coffee table set with the telling name Isla, for example. The design goes back to Halong Bay with its unique island formations and mountain landscapes. The tables are made of solid rubber wood with oak veneer. The sturdy legs appear to be growing out of the tabletop. Isla is a design by Pepe Valenti (2000), the winner of the Zuiver Design Scholarship 2023. Since 2017, Zuiver has been selecting a student who runs through the entire design process from the very start to the commercial end product – in real life at one of the manufacturers. For the Isla set, the internship site was Vietnam, under the auspices of Caroline van Velse, Creative Director of Zuiver. Mainstream meets next-gen design and vice versa.
