20th April 2009 • The Chaise-à-Secret (‘Secret Chair’) will be presented at the Salone Internationale del Mobile 2009, the world’s largest design fair, from 22 to 27 April in Milan. This chair, designed by Nedda, has a secret compartment under the seat. The Belgian company Vange is producing the bamboo chair, Nedda’s third piece of furniture and currently in production. Earlier this year, Obumex brought out a table series and stool with hidden storage.
The prototype of the Chaise-à-Secret was shown in the autumn of 2008 at the International Design Biannual of Saint-Etienne (France). This chair was one of six that Nedda had made for the Secretable in her house. The secret compartment under the seat is the main feature of the Chaise-à-Secret.
Recently, the Belgian design furniture producer Vange decided to put a bamboo version of this comfortable chair on the market. Nedda explains: “Bamboo offers several advantages and is, from an ecological point of view, very interesting material to work with. It is the fastest growing plant on earth. Each year the parent plant produces several new stems which, after 5 years, are ready to be used. Although bamboo is a grass species and not wood, it is harder than oak.”
The bamboo chair, Nedda’s third piece of furniture, went into production less than a year ago. The Belgian producer Obumex launched the Stool and Secretable just a few months ago, after the prototype was exhibited last year at the Milan design fair. As with the Chaise-à-Secret, the table’s and stool’s distinctive characteristic is the hidden storage compartments.
Secretable & Stool
The Secretable, which is available in four sizes, fits both kitchens and offices. At first sight it is a very ordinary looking table, but underneath are several storage spaces that have been deliberately positioned deep so that they do not attract attention. Letters, papers, newspapers, magazines and other items that typically clutter table tops now easily disappear into these handy compartments below the table leaf.
To limit the depth of these storage compartments, two crossbeams have been inserted that support the table surface. Nedda thought of a handy function for these beams. The space between the crossbeams is covered with several hinged panels. These hidden compartments are ideal for storing small kitchen utensils or office materials. The Secretable and the Stool is oak veneer, and the customer can decide on the finish (wood, colour and material combination).
www.nedda.be
Message to the editor: During the Salone Internationale del Mobile 2009 in Milan, the Chaise-à-Secret will be on display at Vange, at the stand [les belges] Wallonnie-Bruxelles Design/Mode (FuoriSalone, Piazza XXV aprile 9), every day from 9.30 AM until 6.30 PM.
Chaise-à-Secret Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Vange, Belgium
Dimensions: Height 80 cm, width 43 cm, depth 47 cm.
Material: Bamboo
Price: 442 Euros
Secretable Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Obumex, Belgium
Dimensions: 210 x 100, 250 x 100, 165 x 165, or 100 x 100 cm (table surface).
Material: Oak veneer. The customer can choose the colour. The storage compartments with hinged shutters are either finished in the same colour as the table surface or accentuated with a contrasting colour (e.g. lacquer finish).
Price: From 3,230 Euros
Stool Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Obumex, Belgium
Dimensions: Height 83 cm, width 43 cm, depth 43.5 cm, seat height 63 cm.
Material: Oak veneer. The customer can choose the colour.
Price: From 755 EurosFiche technique de la Chaise-à-Secret
Nedda El-Asmar studied jewellery design and silversmithing at the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Antwerp, and she completed her education at the Royal College of Art in London. She has worked for such renowned names as Hermès, Puiforcat, Royal Boch, Eternum, Villeroy & Boch, Gense, Obumex, Carl Mertens, and Robbe & Berking. Since March 2007, she is working with designer Erik Indekeu. Her designs have earned numerous awards and prizes. In 1997, she won the Henry van de Velde Award for young talent. Nedda was proclaimed Belgian Designer of 2007, and last year she was nominated for the second time for the 'Talents du Luxe’. In addition, last January, she won the prestigious Flemish Cultural Award for Design. Since 2007, she has taught at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
www.nedda.be
Vange was founded in 1987 by Michel Van Genechten. His passion for architecture, design and contemporary art had earlier led him to work with young independent designers and architects in order to develop visual identity and product design. Vange, based in Liège (Belgium), has become a prominent player in the field of furniture design and the production of contemporary furniture.
www.vange.be
Obumex is a family business established by Eli Ostyn in 1960. He started out making school furniture, but kitchens in a very clean and simple style soon followed. This kitchen furniture was supplemented several decades later by furniture collections which permit the full development of interior design potential. Geert Ostyn, Eli’s son, has been at the helm of Obumex for more than 25 years, and the company has grown into a dedicated team of 100 specialists.
www.obumex.be
The prototype of the Chaise-à-Secret was shown in the autumn of 2008 at the International Design Biannual of Saint-Etienne (France). This chair was one of six that Nedda had made for the Secretable in her house. The secret compartment under the seat is the main feature of the Chaise-à-Secret.Recently, the Belgian design furniture producer Vange decided to put a bamboo version of this comfortable chair on the market. Nedda explains: “Bamboo offers several advantages and is, from an ecological point of view, very interesting material to work with. It is the fastest growing plant on earth. Each year the parent plant produces several new stems which, after 5 years, are ready to be used. Although bamboo is a grass species and not wood, it is harder than oak.”
The bamboo chair, Nedda’s third piece of furniture, went into production less than a year ago. The Belgian producer Obumex launched the Stool and Secretable just a few months ago, after the prototype was exhibited last year at the Milan design fair. As with the Chaise-à-Secret, the table’s and stool’s distinctive characteristic is the hidden storage compartments.
Secretable & Stool
The Secretable, which is available in four sizes, fits both kitchens and offices. At first sight it is a very ordinary looking table, but underneath are several storage spaces that have been deliberately positioned deep so that they do not attract attention. Letters, papers, newspapers, magazines and other items that typically clutter table tops now easily disappear into these handy compartments below the table leaf.
To limit the depth of these storage compartments, two crossbeams have been inserted that support the table surface. Nedda thought of a handy function for these beams. The space between the crossbeams is covered with several hinged panels. These hidden compartments are ideal for storing small kitchen utensils or office materials. The Secretable and the Stool is oak veneer, and the customer can decide on the finish (wood, colour and material combination).
www.nedda.be
Message to the editor: During the Salone Internationale del Mobile 2009 in Milan, the Chaise-à-Secret will be on display at Vange, at the stand [les belges] Wallonnie-Bruxelles Design/Mode (FuoriSalone, Piazza XXV aprile 9), every day from 9.30 AM until 6.30 PM.
Chaise-à-Secret Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Vange, Belgium
Dimensions: Height 80 cm, width 43 cm, depth 47 cm.
Material: Bamboo
Price: 442 Euros
Secretable Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Obumex, Belgium
Dimensions: 210 x 100, 250 x 100, 165 x 165, or 100 x 100 cm (table surface).
Material: Oak veneer. The customer can choose the colour. The storage compartments with hinged shutters are either finished in the same colour as the table surface or accentuated with a contrasting colour (e.g. lacquer finish).
Price: From 3,230 Euros
Stool Specifications
Designer: Nedda
Manufacturer: Obumex, Belgium
Dimensions: Height 83 cm, width 43 cm, depth 43.5 cm, seat height 63 cm.
Material: Oak veneer. The customer can choose the colour.
Price: From 755 EurosFiche technique de la Chaise-à-Secret
***
Nedda El-Asmar studied jewellery design and silversmithing at the Royal Academy for Fine Arts in Antwerp, and she completed her education at the Royal College of Art in London. She has worked for such renowned names as Hermès, Puiforcat, Royal Boch, Eternum, Villeroy & Boch, Gense, Obumex, Carl Mertens, and Robbe & Berking. Since March 2007, she is working with designer Erik Indekeu. Her designs have earned numerous awards and prizes. In 1997, she won the Henry van de Velde Award for young talent. Nedda was proclaimed Belgian Designer of 2007, and last year she was nominated for the second time for the 'Talents du Luxe’. In addition, last January, she won the prestigious Flemish Cultural Award for Design. Since 2007, she has taught at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp.
www.nedda.be
Vange was founded in 1987 by Michel Van Genechten. His passion for architecture, design and contemporary art had earlier led him to work with young independent designers and architects in order to develop visual identity and product design. Vange, based in Liège (Belgium), has become a prominent player in the field of furniture design and the production of contemporary furniture.
www.vange.be
Obumex is a family business established by Eli Ostyn in 1960. He started out making school furniture, but kitchens in a very clean and simple style soon followed. This kitchen furniture was supplemented several decades later by furniture collections which permit the full development of interior design potential. Geert Ostyn, Eli’s son, has been at the helm of Obumex for more than 25 years, and the company has grown into a dedicated team of 100 specialists.
www.obumex.be
