george geara's ECHELLE chairs expand like a ladder to embrace the human body

george geara's ECHELLE chairs expand like a ladder to embrace the human body

george geara at we design beirut

 

Lebanese designer George Geara made headlines at We Design Beirut’s inaugural event with his latest handrafted collection of chairs, QUARTET. Showcased between May 23rd and May 26th, 2024, as part of a major exhibition in Beirut’s historical Villa Audi, the series combines four ECHELLE chairs, sculpted as sleek wooden frames. The final impression is a timeless, and equally whimsical, set of furniture that gently pair classic aspects of Levantine craft with modern materials, state-of-the-art techniques, and generously bold colors. 

george geara echelle designboom
ECHELLE collection at Villa Audi | image © Walid Rashid

 

 

ECHELLE chairs blend classic design with modern materials

 

Described as a dialogue of materials, trends, and craftsmanship, the ECHELLE chairs by George Geara (see more here) features an eye-catching backrest striped with his signature motif. Each backrest expands like a ladder and is built piece by piece to embrace the human body. Geara developed every chair variation by working closely with a Lebanese carpenter, who sculpted the wooden frames A laser-cut metal skeleton was then dressed into the hand-carved piece, adding a modern touch to the handcrafted work. 

george geara echelle designboom
image © Walid Rashid

 

 

Complementing the wooden and metal layers are upholstered and curved seats spanning different color tones: red, yellow, light gray, and electric blue. George Geara then coated each ECHELLE chair in a matching or complementary hue, including black and white. Beyond the choice of colors, the designer experimented with ergonomic details, like adding or omitting armrests. ‘Together, they evolve ergonomically, creating a bold and modern look that contrasts beautifully,’ he comments. The QUARTET collection at Villa Audi was curated by Bablyon – The Agency and is part of George Geara’s AMALGAM collection, introduced during Edit Napoli and Dubai Design Week

george geara echelle designboom
designing each piece with an elongated backrest | image courtesy George Geara

 

 

For a long time, furniture production has relied heavily on manual processes, but in today’s world and responding to the high demand of society, the machinery became a handful tool for makers. We feel a sense of responsibility to keep our artisans motivated and echoing their skills through our new creations.

I n this collection we are emphasizing the importance of the two sides (Artisans\Machinery) and how they meet and complete each other in creating a new product,’ concludes Geara. 

george geara echelle designboom
laser cut metal skeleton detail | image courtesy George Geara

echelle-george-geara-designboom-full-4

image © Walid Rashid

george geara's ECHELLE chairs expand like a ladder to embrace the human body
image courtesy George Geara

george geara's ECHELLE chairs expand like a ladder to embrace the human body
the ECHELLE collection features bold colors | image courtesy George Geara

echelle-george-geara-designboom-full

george geara's ECHELLE chairs expand like a ladder to embrace the human body
image courtesy George Geara

george geara's ECHELLE chairs expand like a ladder to embrace the human body
pairing classic design with modern materials | image courtesy George Geara

echelle-george-geara-designboom-full-5

image courtesy George Geara

KEEP UP WITH OUR DAILY AND WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS
suscribe on designboom
- see sample
- see sample
suscribe on designboom

PRODUCT LIBRARY

a diverse digital database that acts as a valuable guide in gaining insight and information about a product directly from the manufacturer, and serves as a rich reference point in developing a project or scheme.

X
5