Jules Wabbes Retrospective - Brussels

Wednesday October 17, 2012 through Sunday January 6, 2013

Jules Wabbes is one of Belgium's most important furniture designers, yet he remains unknown to the mass public. This exhibition presents, for the first time, a complete overview of his work as 'furniture designer' with a specific focus on the pieces he designed for Foncolin, and his participation at the Milan Triennales in 1957 and 1960. In addition to pictures and original drawings, the exhibit will also feature unique pieces, including prototypes amongst which some have never been shown to the public before.

Jules Wabbes est l’un des plus importants créateurs belges de meubles, mais il reste un inconnu pour le grand public. L’exposition présente pour la première fois un aperçu complet de son travail comme designer de meubles, avec une attention particulière pour les meubles du Foncolin et pour ses participations aux Triennales de Milan en 1957 et 1960. En plus de photos et dessins originaux, l’exposition comporte surtout des pièces de mobilier uniques, parmi lesquelles différents prototypes qui sont pour la première fois présentés au public.

More info @ http://www.bozar.be/

BOZAR - Centre for fine Arts
Rue Ravenstein 23 

1000 Bruxelles

Belgium
Info & Tickets (32) 02 507 82 00

Book on Jules Wabbes

For those of you still trying to get your hands on a book on the Belgian designer Jules Wabbes, his daughter, Marie Ferran-Wabbes, worked on this re-edition (above) available in French, Flemish and English. There is also an exhibit in the works that will take place in Brussels, in October of this year, at the Palais des Beaux-Arts de Bruxelles (Bozar).

ENGLISH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/modulefiles/books/218/jules-wabbes-engels.jpg

FRENCH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/boeken/p/detail/jules-wabbes-frans

FLEMISH http://www.borgerhoff-lamberigts.be/boeken/p/detail/jules-wabbes

Jules Wabbes at home

This is Jules Wabbes's house now lived-in by his wife, Marie Wabbes, a children's book author. His daughter, Marie Ferran-Wabbes, also an author, wrote the only reference and stunning coffee-table book on her father. A collector's item, it has been out of print for a while now ... but hoping that, with this new "Wabbes revival" ... the book will be re-published soon!

This is a house I know very very well, and it is one of the houses that have influenced my Belgian style.

The pictures in this post courtesy of http://www.owi.bz/
Photos by Jean-Pierre Gabriel

Jules Wabbes Revival

"For the last few years Jules Wabbes (1919-1974) was high-up there on the vintage list for international design dealers. As a result his original designs reached astronomical heights in price and desirability. That’s why the premier representative of Belgian design in the 1960s and 70s is currently re-edited by Belgian design-house Bulo, lightning house Wever & Ducré and carpet house Bic-Carpets.

Initially an antiques dealer and decorator, in the 1950s he designed the interior for several Sabena aircrafts. A series of interior design commissions followed, including the International Science Hall at the Brussels Universal Exhibition, the royal couple’s apartment on board the Belgian marine ship Godetia and the offices of the Crédit Communal or the Générale de Banque.

A lover of beautiful materials, he created desks, tables, bookcases, mobile furniture, storage furniture, lamps and seating, in addition to the furniture Wabbes had made to measure or adapted for customers who commissioned him to fit out their interiors: beds, lights, door handles. All these different designs could be ordered in different sizes, materials or finishes. These were the foundations of the international reputation of his designs, designs of simple form and timeless elegance.

We don’t say the re-editions are cheap, but they will save you some money if you want to invest in timeless and elegant classic. And let’s be honest, aren’t you tired of seeing Vitra designs and Kartell everywhere…"

This post via http://www.ilovebelgium.be/

You can also check this previous 2009 entry from Belg'Chic on Jules Wabbes here.

WildSpirit Furniture

A few favorites designs from Belgian http://www.wildspirit.be/en/

"The goal of Wildspirit is to convert renewing ideas into signature pieces. Its unique character, its multifunctional and the combined use of wood and leather are the soul of the collection. Wildspirit works with external designers like Michael Bihain, Twan Verlinden, Alain Berteau, Axel Enthoven and Erik Jansen. They were selected because of their similar philosophy to Wildspirit: an expedition for intelligent, aesthetic and durable design objects. Out of respect for their creative integrity, Wildspirit gives their designers carte blanche. The Wildspirit designers create their objects with a twist which gives the product a multifunctional goal. For this reason, all the signature pieces of Wildspirit can be integrated easily in multifarious interiors."

Malvini - Puur and heavenly simple furniture

Loving the look of malvini's simple pieces of furniture inspired from the past ...

"Impassioned by furniture from the past, as well as natural materials, we, at Malvini create our own, contemporary furniture. All our furniture is produced in our own workshop and is manufactured from massive wood, according to the classical method of furniture making.

Models are still drawn by hand, on scale, in order to achieve ideal proportions. Malvini only uses functional constructions, not ornamental ones. Malvini can offer you several classical pieces, for both indoor and outdoor use.

Malvini prefers working with natural, hard-wearing materials, which give the furniture a rich and timeless look."

You can see the whole line and read more @ http://www.malvini.be/index.html

Cushionized Sofa

Lazy (sun)days, don’t we all like them? Preparing for one is quite easy as they only demand a few ingredients. A good movie, finger food and a whole bunch of pillows. If you want to bring this recipe to a higher level, then the I Love Belgium team found the perfect solution. The Brussels based designers Linda Topic and Christiane Hoegner created pieces that will bring you to that highest level of laziness!

Christiane Hoegner’s cushionized sofa uses the smallest element of the sofa as main component. When it’s usually used to adjust and customize your personal comfort/laziness level, it is now multiplies and piled up to the shape of the sofa. Dealing with our everyday life and the search for the lo-fi sensations in the necessity of a high-tech world. A piece well succeeded! Maybe you’ll want to add a loose pillow to cover your eyes (Scary movies, you know).

This post via http://www.ilovebelgium.be/

Ethnicraft eco-friendly furniture

"In the mid Nineties, two young Belgian entrepreneurs started importing & selling unique, ethnic Asian furniture and decorative objects. Driven by the phenomenal success and the rapidly increasing demand of certain models, they set up their own production unit of repeatable teak items not long after.

Over a decade later, Ethnicraft has established itself as an internationally renowned company – a pioneer in designing, producing and distributing emorational? wooden furniture with a contemporary and timeless design. No longer only in teak, but also in oak and walnut.

Only a small local Belgian company in 1995, Ethnicraft has now grown into a global company with various branches worldwide."

This post and more via http://en.ethnicraft.com/