ONDARRETA : TALKS
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Q - How did the collaboration between Ondarreta y Estudi{H}ac come to be? What concept prompted the creation of this collection of chairs?
Nadia – We already knew José Manuel, as we had collaborated with Estudi{H}ac before. This time around, we had something very specific in mind when we went looking for a studio: we wanted a versatile product, something with reduced dimensions, something different from other pieces we have recently developed at Ondarreta. We wanted to go back to when we began making pieces for installations or hotels; we wanted to make a product that worked, for example, in a dining table situation. We told Estudi{H}ac what we were looking for and they came up with a proposal for a very flexible product, so we decided to move forward with them.
José Manuel – From the outset, we understood their intention to make a chair whose design was convenient, a chair that could fit in a line of lightweight pieces and express character while remaining simple. It was important for us to make it adaptable, to make sure it allowed the possibility to play a little with different materials and combinations. At Estudi{H}ac, we always try to include this feature in our designs. We want them to be flexible so that product designers, interior designers and architects can play with them, so that they can transform each piece to suit the specific needs of a project, tailoring it to every space they conceive. That was the point of departure: to create a simple product that would, nonetheless, allow for this type of creativity.
Q – Versatility is a feature that is usually present in the world of bespoke products – designs that leave room for clients to tailor final details to their needs. Can you tell us a bit more about this?
José Manuel – We always try to make our products versatile so that end-users, or intermediary clients such as architects or interior designers, can customize each piece and somehow make it their own. That is, in fact, the philosophy of Estudi{H}ac. We have always been interested in that aspect of tailoring and the work that it entails; the fact that tailors are always thinking of end-users when they choose how to use textiles and materials. Therein lies the value of developing bespoke products. When we design at Estudi{H}ac, we are always thinking of making room for playfulness, keeping our clients in mind and avoiding being repetitive. Every buyer has specific needs, and that means that, even when maintaining our studio’s distinct features, it is important to offer the client something unique, something that will stand out as much as possible. That is the point of departure for all of our projects.
In this particular case, we wanted to evoke, with one simple piece, the vast universe related to yarn and tailoring. Looms –the textile-making machines– inspired us in the creation of these lightweight chairs that stand on a structure made of a very thin metallic strand, similar to a moving thread. On ancient looms, you could work with a technique called piqué, a system in which figures are woven directly into the textiles. This idea of having different elements and textures come together was translated into the design of the chair – we wanted it to fuse a variety of elements and to allow many possible combinations of wood, plastic, upholstery, and size.