gregoire de lafforest presents furniture based on exoskeletons

grégoire de lafforest presents furniture based on exoskeletons
all images courtesy of grégoire de lafforest

with his new ‘exo’ collection, which he has created exclusively for the galerie gosserez, grégoire de lafforest references the anatomical exoskeletons of creatures from the animal kingdom. the design process began with the observation that scientific researchers have been developing biomechanical or machine-like exoskeletons for medical, industrial, and military purposes. converting this concept into physical objects has caused the architect to give the leading role to elements of furniture that are typically hidden or considered to be secondary functions. thus, the underlying structure becomes the main visual aspect of each piece.

left: the exo wardrobe closed, right: the exo wardrobe revealing its interior properties

in order to press users towards questioning the stability of the furniture, a visual confrontation is staged between basic and plain volumes (cubes, cylinders, and spheres) or aerial and complex architectures. this can be seen through the use of metal frames that add a lightness to the appearance of the coffee table, dining table, and wardrobe closet from the series. due to this tension between complementary opposites, a law of balance arises that confers a new aesthetic to the furnishings.

detail of the exo wardrobe handles

construction detail of the exo wardrobe

the exo coffee table uses 2 layers of trusses for its supporting structure

aerial view of the coffee table

closeup view of a marble cylinder suspended within the coffee table

details of the dining table

details of the wood and structural properties of the dining table

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.