Design studio Neri & Hu launches furniture collection with De La Espada
One of our favourite design couples, Neri & Hu, has collaborated with De la Espada on a new collection of furniture, which they unveiled in New York during ICFF this week. The Shanghai-based duo has created 10 new pieces especially for the occasion, adding to an existing range, which will now all be produced by the Portuguese furniture makers.
The collection is everything we could have hoped for - a brilliant blend of Eastern sensibilities with De la Espada's expert,
contemporary craftsmanship. Some highlights from the varied range include a trio of tables that have been paired with geometric legs, an architectural two-tier desk or vanity table with a fold-up mirror attached, and a low-backed deep seat sofa, reminiscent of a Chinese opium bed.
Not ones to follow the design pack, Neri & Hu eschewed a launch in Milan's Salone del Mobile for New York, in tribute to their American roots. 'Launching in New York is somewhat like a homecoming for us, since we were both educated in the US, went to school close to New York and worked in firms in New York before returning to Asia to start our [architectural] practice,' explained Rossana Hu.
True to their multifaceted form, Neri & Hu also created a special installation within the new luxury apartment building 345 Meatpacking by DDG, which doubled up as their exhibition space for the week. The installation, which was hosted by The Future Perfect (our New York design destination of choice), cleverly divided the space into a more intimate environment.
Visitors made their way down a dark corridor lined with pigeon holes, which they peeked through to see sketches, renderings and models of other Neri & Hu projects, before entering the main space where the new pieces could be viewed. Coupled with the sounds of Shanghai's busy streets that were piped into the space and the raw brick walls of the existing building, the exhibition format brought to mind the inner and outer courtyard format of traditional Chinese houses.
The new Neri & Hu collection for De La Espada is available from The Future Perfect
Watch Neri & Hu's installation came into being in this timelapse film
ADDRESS
345 Meatpacking
345 West 14th Street
New York
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Pei-Ru Keh is a former US Editor at Wallpaper*. Born and raised in Singapore, she has been a New Yorker since 2013. Pei-Ru held various titles at Wallpaper* between 2007 and 2023. She reports on design, tech, art, architecture, fashion, beauty and lifestyle happenings in the United States, both in print and digitally. Pei-Ru took a key role in championing diversity and representation within Wallpaper's content pillars, actively seeking out stories that reflect a wide range of perspectives. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children, and is currently learning how to drive.
-
Oliver Spencer’s winter collection is a lesson in good outerwear
Prepare for sudden temperature drops with Oliver Spencer’s Alpine-inspired winter collection, ‘Postcards from Lech-Zürs’, whereby outerwear – crafted from traditional British fabric – is front and centre
By Jack Moss Published
-
The Volkswagen Passat is a sober, straight edged estate car that feels increasingly out of time
Why would anyone pass on a Passat? Volkswagen’s big load lugger proves that the old ideas are still the best
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Italian designer Enrico Marone Cinzano fuses natural perfection with industrial imperfection
Enrico Marone Cinzano's first solo show at New York’s Friedman Benda gallery debuts collectible furniture designs that marry organic materials with upcycled industrial components
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
The China List: Joyce Wang, Interiors
Wallpaper* and China’s Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development Fund (CHSDF) present China By Design—a celebration of Chinese cultural heritage and the many global creatives who have been inspired by it. Explore the full list here.
By Alice Morby Last updated
-
Tokyo story: our series of illustrated interiors is blossoming
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated
-
Into the labyrinth: the G+Maze experience opens in Shanghai
By Sara Sturges Last updated
-
Grid work: ZaoZuo opens first physical store in Beijing
By Yoko Choy Last updated
-
World's fair: what to expect from Design Shanghai 2016
By Giovanna Dunmall Last updated
-
Fresh from the fair: IMM Cologne 2015
By Matthew Morris Last updated
-
Behind the scenes: W*158’s High Ball shoot at HighCliff, Hong Kong
By Rosa Bertoli Last updated