fernando brizio: furo + senta for materia

‘furo’ by fernando brizio for materia*
agglomerated cork, colored pencils
∅ 255 x H286mm
image courtesy of materia*

in a collaboration that started more than a year ago, portuguese cork manufacturing company amorim, approached experimentadesign, whose flagship venture is the EXD biennale in lisbon, to develop a project by selecting designers to bridge the gap between the raw natural material and user, by creating objects for everyday use. experimentadesign chose ten portuguese and international designers and studios based on their creative processes, paying close attention to their functionality and relevance, with an understanding of user dynamics.

entitled materia*, the result is a collection of objects that investigate the potential of cork, emphasizing its versatility, first presented to the public on the occasion of milan design week 2011. portuguese designer fernando brizio has developed ‘furo’ and ‘senta’ for the collection, both of which explore the idea of a main cork centrepiece whose purpose and function is enhanced through the use of ‘legs’.

image © designboom

fernando brizio on ‘furo’: ‘furo’ is not happy being just a bowl or container for the living room or office. that job is not fulfilling enough. ‘furo’ needs an outlet for its creative drive,  so it stands up on its tall legs and demands your attention.

each leg is a colored pencil so when the sharpened tips are turned outward, ‘furo’ becomes a drawing device. slid it around over a sheet of paper and watch as the surface beneath comes alive with perfectly symmetrical lines.

a textured cork body mounted on 36 or 4 pencil-legs, which makes for two different configurations and drawing patterns, ‘furo’ can be dismantled for easy storage or to, literally, cut down on its artistic outbursts. visually striking and mischievously inviting transgression, ‘furo’ is a seductive piece that makes you wonder who exactly is drawing the line. 

image © designboom

‘senta’ by fernando brizio for materia*
agglomerated cork, wood
∅ 255 x H443, legs ∅  37 x 410mm
image courtesy of materia*

fernando brizio on ‘senta’: ‘senta’ is a contradiction on four legs: the possibility to sit down while on the move, to harmonize your nomadic and contemplative instincts. a fool-proof, pack and carry stool you can assemble and use anywhere, ‘senta’ fits four wooden legs into a cork seat that is both sturdy and flexible, making for a comfortable sitting spot. cut into the cork body, two oval-shaped openings attest to its on-the-go potential: with no assigned spot in the house, it can smoothly fit an extra person at the dinner table  or give you those extra inches to reach a tall kitchen cabinet.

the legs fit neatly into the side openings for easy storage and transportation. outdoors, ‘senta’ can be packed and unpacked out of the truck of a car for a family picnic, fishing expedition or country outing. when a sunset or landscape are simply begging for a couple of minutes of your undivided attention.

image © designboom