At the age of 20, the young Belgian designer Timon Mattelaer bought a house in the suburbs of Ghent in the northeast of the country. “I’m known as a handyman and I planned to renovate most of the house myself. It soon became clear that I had no budget for furnishings. Credits: Atelier Timon Mattelaer
As a freshly minted graphic designer, I was very much into contemporary aesthetics and sustainability. Finding it difficult to buy from IKEA or a large furniture chain, I began designing and creating my own furniture,” he recalls. An approach that couldn’t be more in tune with the zeitgeist that he brings to life in the “Simple chair” project. “The purpose of the prototype (in plywood) was to demonstrate the structural integrity of the chair. I then decided to use steel or aluminum, both of which can be recycled into new sheets. Finally, the chair is laser cut by a machine from a steel or aluminum plate and welded together, all by people close to my workspace.” Another notable piece from the young designer, “Table round.” This one was born “from the idea of building a small table that could easily be assembled in a small space. I wanted the table to be a single sheet of plywood, while producing little waste.”
In addition, the furniture is designed from pine without toxic glue that could potentially cause harm. A method inspired to this young creative by his college background: “Having a background in fashion made me realize that mass consumption is no longer something I wanted to be a part of. Years later, I feel that my furniture has a place in the world. That my idea is worth telling.”
Lisa Agostini