Hermès quests for lightness with four translucent colored paper installations

hermès’ new home collections IN MILAN’S LA PELOTA

On the occasion of Milan Design Week 2022, Hermès quests for lightness with four translucent installations presented in the La Pelota event space. Through these installations, the design team sought to play with gravity and light, and find a balance between color and material. Despite the massive size of their wooden skeletons, the structures appear soft and delicate thanks to their unique semi-transparent coverings.

The four architectural volumes radiate light, popping against the dark backdrop. Thus, the colorful towers stimulate the curiosity of the visitors who feel the urge to discover what is inside. Upon entering the small openings, one encounters different household items from decorative pieces to chairs and dinnerware, all precisely positioned to seek ‘lightness in the design of the object’.

‘Perception of the creations changes as light plays over them when they are backlit against the structures, each a poetic colossus and a point of anchor for these little miracles of balance.’

all images © designboom

‘looking for lightness’ by hermès

The four volumes designed by the French brand introduce visitors of Milan design week 2022 to its latest creations. Although the structures resemble water towers, they still maintain their lightness and sleekness. Each semi-transparent paper cladding unveils its unique wooden patterns, playing with geometry and exuding lightness.

The home collections exhibited inside appear as a discreet interplay of texture, material, color, and transparency, incorporating unique fields of know-how. The series includes porcelain items, leather furniture, and lots of cashmere — one of Hermès’ favorite materials.

‘A sheet of leather, cut, folded and hand-painted, becomes a table centerpiece; porcelain plates reflect the sun’s rays, and a canework seat makes a chair as graceful as it is robust. Capture the essence of the material and enrich it with the work of an innovative hand. Thus the lightness of lines and style can transcend time.’

‘The Construction blanket, inspired by Gianpaolo Pagni’s designs, expresses its graphic dimension through the material itself. Cashmere panels are assembled by linking in a technique borrowed from ready-to-wear. The Surface bedspread is constructed from surprising hexagons created in cashmere and combines the meticulous techniques of patchwork and quilting, both mastered by American artist Carson Converse.’