Stacking in Formation – Furniture by French Industrial Designer Martin Szekely

Sometimes it’s the simple shapes that lend themselves to being used in a functional manner. I liked the work of Martin Szekely for a few reasons, one thanks to his collection of furniture that centres around a square or a rectangle shape, orientating them to create furniture that’s stacked upwards or sideways. His older furniture has an experimental twist, using imagery that we’re familiar with, such as screws for legs or a rock-like shape for the top of a stool.

It’s interesting to note that on his bio he says that he’s trying to achieve a result that’s not just defined as “minimalist” but is also rooted in economy of material and the overall usability of an object. I think he has struck a good balance and for this reason is currently represented in the permanent collection of some of the most famous art museums in the world, from MoMA in New York to the V&A in London.

I especially liked the series titled MAP that consists of modules that can change according to the actual use needed, such as a table or even a few different tables. This kind of functionality is always an attractive part of design, having more than one purpose and solving multiple problems. Here are a few of my favourite images from his portfolio of furniture, I recommend you hop on over to his webpage below to see more of the work that he’s designed over the years. Enjoy.

martinszekely.com

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