Page 38 - S/ Summer 2021

Alva
Alva is reinventing the possibilities for traditional furniture, viewing it as a means of envisioning alternate realities. The brainchild of siblings Marcelo Alvarenga, an architect by trade, and Susana Bastos, an artist, Alva furniture is informed by these two worlds: the logical and the imaginative. Their Piscinas collection, named after the Portuguese word for “swimming pool”, plays with a mix of
tile, steel, and wood to add unexpected dimensions to each design. The aim of the collection is to evoke other readings of human existence. The five tables of the Piscinas collections will transport the viewer to nostalgic memories of summer days spent by the pool. The Gray Ramp and Pink Shallow tables bring to mind lounge chairs, while the aptly named Blue Swimming Pool takes on the appearance of a small kiddie pool. The attention to details and materials showcases the brand’s dedication to craftsmanship while staying true to its playful, artistic nature.
DESIGN
SQUARING OFF
Furniture designers are reimagining the purpose of the humble tile, creating eye-catching pieces that will add intrigue to any space.
BY ROBYN BELL
Max Lamb for Tajimi
Max Lamb’s designs for Tajimi are found at
the intersection between art and functionality. The U.K. designer first began his collaboration with Tajimi in 2018, setting out to design experimental objects (made using local production methods) that would inspire architects and designers to create their
own original tiles. Lamb created a set of three-dimensional modular tiles that, through the use of pressure moulding, allow each
design to take on double-curved shapes with rounded edges. Lamb had never worked with tiles prior to this project, and approached the collection without preconceived notions of what tile design should look like. With an extensive background as a furniture designer, Lamb infused utility into each artistic piece. This approach resulted in incredibly unique vases, benches, tables, and partition walls with fluid forms. Even asymmetrical shapes are grounded by the precise symmetry of the tiles, which were developed with architects in mind.
38 • SMAGAZINEOFFICIAL.COM
Alva: photo courtesy of Alva. Max Lamb for Tajimi: photographed by Kenta Hasegawa.