The timeless horizons of design, from tradition to future
We are living in a context where the inclusion of pieces that enhance daily life is in a constant rise. Several spaces are merged into one, the home, with the office or play spaces and functional elements that are being renewed with a vision of tradition. The interchangeable formulas are in all spaces.
The event hosted in Espacio Betty was the way to introduce &Tradition in Madrid and a way to build brand awareness in Spain, as well as present the Develius sofa designed by Edward van Vliet.
Openhouse guided the content of a talk between Edward van Vliet and Els Van Hoorebeeck, Head of Design of & Tradition, in which we reflected about how the body of classics created in the mid century will evolve in the skin of the classics for tomorrow. It is important to review the evolution of the concepts such as quality and sensitivity: “Quality is one of &Tradition’s main references. The heart of all its productions, the latest pandemic circumstances have benefited a greater interest of users to explore more brands with the condition of quality. The need for greater well-being of people indicates a direct path of excellence of the functional elements that surround us, at home or in the office”, explained Edward van Vliet.
The new meaning and sensibility in today’s design was a recurring subject of the conversation between Edward and Els. Today, the sofa is a living piece with multiple functions. Whether it is in the office or at home, it is a place to rest, work, relax and play. The structure, the ergonomics, the enveloping textile or the modularity, mark an innovative evolution very close to the new rhythms of life.
“The need for greater well-being of people indicates a direct path of excellence of the functional elements that surround us, at home or in the office”, explained Edward.
“In my conception of design, the evolution of people influences the evolution of their spaces. There is a tendency to create more personal spaces, with objects, furniture and lighting that are an extension of ourselves. The confinement of the pandemic makes us consider the home as a refuge, a nest of personal development”.
Sustainability and creativity are the main components for necessary innovation. For Els, “The important concept that transcends the brand values is durability. The timelessness of maintaining pieces over time”.
The work between Els and Edward was based on mutual confidence and honesty: “In my work with Edward, as with the other designers at &Tradition, I try to create a bond of trust, a commitment to useful and beautiful designs, especially multifunctional pieces that create an ambience, the atmosphere of relaxation, where time stands still”, summarizes Els.
“We need to live with a different concept of time, more serene and harmonious, this is the core of the development of most of the pieces”, Els pointed out. And that is actually the idea that Edward gathers in his recently published book. “I have a constant concern to generate peaceful atmospheres, with special attention to colour, textures and a multicultural vision”.
An interesting conversation followed by the audience, who went deeper into all the topics discussed. In the crowd, we found studios such as Plutarco, Plantea Estudio, Catalina Alarcón, Alin Malimowcka, MMestudio Interior and the design online platform called Diario Design.
