zaha hadid ultrastellar furniture collection at david gill gallery

as her final collection of furniture for the david gill gallery, zaha hadid’s ‘ultrastellar’ celebrates the legacy of this long-term partnership by presenting a range of brand new pieces and work that builds upon past creations. in contrast to her previous shows at the gallery, first started in 2007, the furniture employs more traditional materials including walnut, silver, glass and leather, rather than her more renowned acrylic designs. in doing so, this collection also provides a glimpse at the on-going relationship between the gallery and zaha hadid design, which is now under the creative direction of patrik schumacher.

image © martin slivka

the shapes in the ‘ultrastellar’ collection highlight zaha’s continuing use of single fluid and twisting lines, with the bowl and coffee table, single and twin chair, dining table and chandelier showcasing these complex interactions. even more impressive is the implementation of traditional materials to form these multidimensional profiles. there is a focus on the natural finish of these elements, which seamlessly bends and flows into the next material. the twisting chairs are exemplar of this idea, as smooth walnut surfaces run flawlessly into the soft and elegant leather upholstery.

image © martin slivka

image © martin slivka

image © martin slivka

providing exceptional strength, tactility and a beautiful natural appearance, the coffee and dining tables are both manufactured from walnut timber. with the smaller sized piece, the notable holes create a sense of lightness and a visual connection with the structure and legs. as well, these features catch your attention and draw you into the sinking experience of the design. in the center of the large dining table, a glass oval reinforces the ideals of lightness in the wooden furniture. it is braced by arching walnut supports, which curve outwards and upwards in order to offer vast amounts of leg room for diners.

image © martin slivka

image © martin slivk 

image © martin slivka

as part of the zaha hadid ‘ultrastellar’ collection, there are three new pieces that extend the ‘liquid glacial’ furniture line, which was originally shown in 2012 and expanded again in 2015. composed of two console shapes and a bowl, the designs are created from milled and hand-polished acrylic. the bowl, which has also been made in sterling silver, appears to elegantly ripple outwards from its center to its less defined edge. capturing the moment when a stone drops into calm water, the design refracts beautiful light waves across the nearby walls and ceiling.

image © martin slivka 

image © martin slivka

image © martin slivka

as the centerpiece of the ‘ultrastellar’ collection, the aluminum and glass chandelier sweeps impressively over the gallery. it builds upon the prototype, initially shown as part of the david gill gallery chandelier exhibition during the 2014 london design festival, and is exhibited as a finalized and manufactured design for the first time. the chandelier appears like a metal canopy, stretching over the space and supporting small clusters of tiny lights that are made from crystal glass inserts.

image © martin slivka

at the exclusive preview of the ‘ultrastellar’ collection at the david gill gallery in london, patrik schumacher, now the the creative director of zaha hadid architects and design, sat down with designboom to discuss the new furniture line, the traditional material usage, and what the future for their relationship with gallery may look like. stay tuned to designboom to read this exclusive, one-on-one interview.

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