André Fu’s new furniture is inspired by Japanese gardens
André Fu Living’s Art Deco Garden is a collection of furniture, objects, wallcoverings and homeware inspired by Zen gardens and Art Deco
André Fu presents Art Deco Garden, a new collection of furniture by his brand André Fu Living, inspired by Art Deco and the Zen gardens of Kyoto. The collection comprises cabinets, armchairs and dining chairs, tables, room dividers as well as porcelain tableware and wallcoverings in collaboration with De Gournay.
‘On the new collection, I was interested in exploring if there is a means to reinterpret the Art Deco silhouettes against the sensibility of Zen gardens,’ says Fu. ‘In many ways, I want to deconstruct the Art Deco formal patterns with the sensuous movement characteristic of Zen gardens. It will be intriguing to juxtapose the two highly distinct and culturally different design elements.’
Starting from two seemingly unrelated points of references, the designer weaves a visual narrative based on delicate intersecting lines, combining the meditative motifs of raked sand and the gilded patterns of Art Deco architecture. The design process went hand in hand with rigorous research into historical Japanese Zen gardens, with a particular focus on the Tofukuji Temple Garden. What attracted Fu was the use of nature as a raw material to create lyrical spaces, and the masterful use of pebbles to create fluid lines and evoke a sense of visual movement and serenity.
The collection’s visual focus is the delicately hand-drawn silk paper surfaces of cabinets and the room divider, individually hand-painted and finished with silver and gold gilding on delicate hues of blue, brown and beige. These abstract motifs discreetly reference Japanese gardens and calligraphy, adding subtle decoration to the sophisticated collection. The same patterns are recreated in smaller scale on the porcelain tableware, a minimalist design in white enriched with a palette of almond taupe, mink brown and gold gilding.
‘My personal design approach is not just about combining styles together,’ says Fu. ‘Rather, it rests on an ability to navigate different cultures and reflect contemporary culture based on the inherent qualities of beauty itself, as opposed to just based on any one style.’
INFORMATION
andrefuliving.com
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
-
Christmas gift ideas for design lovers
Wallpaper* global design director Hugo Macdonald compiles his festive wish list – from Poltrona Frau's luxurious dog leads to Carl Aubock's wicker magazine wall rack
By Hugo Macdonald Published
-
‘I want to push it forward’: Dries Van Noten’s new creative director is Julian Klausner
A member of the Dries Van Noten design team since 2018, Belgian designer Julian Klausner has been promoted to creative director after the namesake founder’s exit from his eponymous label earlier this year
By Jack Moss Published
-
Inside Dior’s ‘Gold House’ in Bangkok, a spectacular celebration of Thai art and craft
Daven Wu takes a trip to Bangkok to discover ‘Gold House’, a gilded new concept store from Dior which is rooted in both Parisian savoir-faire and artisanal Thai craft, featuring a café, gardens and showstopping gilded facade
By Daven Wu Published
-
This new rug release from Floor Story is causing a cosmic eclipse
Kangan Arora and Floor Story have designed ten otherworldly illusions of form and tone – the ‘Cosmic Check’ and ‘Falling Shadows’ rug collections
By Martha Elliott Last updated
-
Scandinavian design meets Japanese heritage in OEO Studio’s Tokyo apartment
OEO Studio has collaborated with Japanese property developer ReBita on a luxury new apartment at Tokyo’s Opus Arisugawa Terrace & Residence
By Hannah Silver Last updated
-
Nendo and Georg Jensen create silver vases inspired by nature
Japanese design studio Nendo and Danish silversmith Georg Jensen create a set of three silver vases that combine organic forms and minimalist aesthetics
By Mary Cleary Last updated
-
Niwaki is a new outlet for Japan’s most innovative tools
New London store Niwaki sells exquisitely crafted Japanese gardening tools and workwear
By Mary Cleary Last updated
-
Japanese minimalism meets Scandinavian design in Karimoku Case Study
The Azabu Residence by Keiji Ashizawa and Norm Architects’ Frederik Alexander Werner is part of the Karimoku Case Study project, and features a sombre material palette and restrained colour scheme for a peaceful family interior
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Snøhetta designs experimental culinary space in Tokyo
Snøhetta co-founder Craig Dykers discusses the architecture of Burnside – a Tokyo event space for art and design outfit En One and the Bronx chef collective Ghetto Gastro
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Japan as seen through the lens of Marcio Kogan
Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan recalls his Christmas tradition of traveling to Japan and how that inspired a new collection of seating for Minotti, referencing the original 1960s design of hotel Okura by Yoshiro Taniguchi
By Scott Mitchem Last updated
-
A new collection of furniture combines Italian and Japanese craftsmanship
Italian furniture company De Padova and Japanese brand Time & Style join forces on a collection of furniture that marries the two countries' aesthetics and craftsmanship traditions
By Alice Morby Last updated