“On Cloud 9”
By: David Venables in Events, Species focus
Actually I tell a lie there were in fact twelve of them! We have worked with a number of very interesting architects in the past few years, but in Milan last week, as part of the Salone de Mobile, we collaborated with the Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto for the first time. His “In the Cloud” bar installation was part of the Wallpaper* handmade exhibition - another first for us. The chosen specie for the wooden “clouds” was tulipwood, not a first for us, but Sou Fujimoto’s presentation of this “widely used but rarely seen” hardwood was definitely original. The vertical orientation of the wood created a dramatic marbled stripe effect on the sides and a mosaic of end grain for the flat surfaces. With just a light wax finish the real character of this wood was on full show and visitors to the bar area just couldn’t help but gasp, touch, stroke and lean! I really was “on Cloud 9” because the reaction was so fantastic. To evoke such emotion is why we do these kinds of creative collaborations; they’re all about challenging perceptions and doing something different. Working with tulipwood was also a first for architect Fujimoto and he loved it “I am pleased you encouraged us to use it” he said “the look and feel is perfect for this piece” and he nearly fell off his cloud when I told him it is the cheapest hardwood we promote!