With the spectre of climate change hovering over the world, the major buzzword in nearly all industries today is ‘sustainability’. But for design aficionados–Andreu World and Philippe Starck, sustainability is more than just a buzzword. For them, it is a lifestyle, a movement. “I love nature. I don’t want to kill trees to make a seat”, says Philippe Starck, a visionary trendsetter carving out a distinct space in the design industry by employing artificial intelligence to “use the minimum of everything and design for longevity”.
Eco-design for Starck encapsulates “designing an object with the greatest care so that it is timeless and never goes out of fashion”. The artistic director also believes that as a creator, one should use human intelligence to create “smart materials that consume the least material, the least energy and that are beneficial to us”. This way, we can circumvent the exploitation of natural resources, such as solid wood or leather.
Unsurprisingly, the unifying force that brought the two luminaries together was their resolve to create innovative and sustainable designs that enable people to enjoy lounge spaces without leaving a negative impact on the planet–a philosophy that enkindled their joint venture ‘Stories Starck’.
Twelve designs, one purpose
Stories Starck is an eco-conscious project that fuses the traditional craftsmanship of Spanish brand Andreu World and the minimalist, technology-driven approach of designer Philippe Starck to manifest twelve high-quality designs that celebrate nature and embody sustainability.
The dynamic duo epitomises eco-design and the famous ‘less is more’ approach through an ‘intelligent’ use of wood—the main character of the project and a sustainable raw material that the brand says is in their “roots.” “For these creations, we have used the minimum of the minimum. For example, Adela Rex is made from three pieces of plywood. Forest club, with two pieces of plywood. Mariya, with two boxes and four planks; we couldn’t do any less,” says Starck. “Plywood makes it possible to use only one millimetre of wood. It is durable, elegant, and affordable,” he adds.
Presenting a reimagined rendition of the classic chair concept, the high-octane designs received 14 awards at the Best of NeoCon in Chicago. The collection’s upholstered seats imbue spaces with an aesthetic that is both modish and timeless.
A new age of design
The project ‘Stories Starck’ is a gateway to the brand’s vision of adding all Andreu World designs to the circular economy by 2030. The thoughtfully-designed collection upholds sustainability by way of artificial intelligence and technical mastery of wood. So much so that the parts of most chairs are assembled via the ancient system of clavets—a technique used in the Middle Ages to design cathedrals—instead of glue or screws. “The work of AI is like craft. It is not a hammer, it is a tool,” says Starck.
All in all, Andreu World places sustainability at the heart of all its activities. It collaborates with like-minded designers “to optimise resources and reduce the environmental footprint in all aspects of the production process.” Clearly, its partnership with Philippe Starck is no different. The iconoclast says “Collaborating with Andreu World is not about working, it’s about daydreaming and then making those dreams come true, in the most natural and elegant way.”
An eye on the future
Celebrating the finest in the design community, Andreu World will be presenting the Architecture Days Congress on 15 September in the city of Valencia, Spain. The aim of the conference program will be to establish strong ties between Morocco and Spain by way of architecture and to promote “cultural diplomacy” through enticing and insightful round table conferences.
To further translate their commitment to eco-design, Andreu World will also be hosting the 22nd Andreu World International Design Contest. With ‘Beyond the Plastic Wave’ as the central theme of this year’s edition, the competition aims to invest in young talent that will pave the way for a better, more sustainable future. The jury will include a host of renowned personalities including, but not limited to; Italian designer Rossana Orlandi, Ibero-American journalist Luján Cambariere, and American designer and founder of Fuseproject Yves Béhar.
To know more about the contest, click here.
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