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ESCOLOPENDRA
How does its adaptable design redefine modern furniture?
In the year 2000, a groundbreaking creation emerged, embodying a new paradigm in furniture design, the "ESCOLOPENDRA" Bookshelf from the "DOMESTIC MONSTERS" collection. Spearheaded by the brilliant I. D, M.SC. Luis Angarita, and supported by auxiliary designers Carlos Torres and Constanza Giraldo, this project delved into the realm of living products, creating entities that self-configure, react, move and manifest in their space, responding to both the user and the objects around them.
The driving force behind this project was a firm belief that traditional objects had served their cultural purpose, propelling humanity towards a future where products would resonate more as living entities than mere aesthetics. These envisioned creations were designed to interact with their environment, transforming alongside the user's needs and preferences, allowing the end user to shape the outcome more than the initial designer.
The "ESCOLOPENDRA" Bookshelf was brought to life through a harmonious blend of two primary modules. The first, a wooden leg intricately designed with internal steel hardware, divided into four segments. The second, a resilient 24-gauge stainless steel sheet, adorned with dual sets of perforated square lines traversing from end to end. This ingenious combination offered more than 50 distinct configurations, wherein the objects placed upon it influenced its aesthetic qualities, inducing a captivating dialogue with the surroundings. The bookshelf ceased to be a passive piece of furniture; it became a protagonist, and the user, an inventor, transforming into a magazine rack, a sculptural piece, an industrial item, or an experiment. Its sole purpose was to explore fresh expressions for a new generation of domestic objects.
Crafted from stainless steel and tropical hardwood, this dynamic furniture piece adapts to over 50 configurations, redefining modern home decor
At the heart of this project's triumph was the efficient utilization of materials, unlocking the potential of their combination, and venturing into an uncharted territory of form and function. The legs elegantly entrapped the stainless steel sheet, securing it at multiple points, thus enabling a self-structuring and mobile element whose final form was a canvas for the consumer's imagination. It was akin to a flexible 'LEGO,' challenging conventional furnishing concepts and aiming to integrate into a new breed of products that would soon grace household spaces.
The journey involved an extensive exploration of form and materials, meticulous prototyping, and careful material selection, particularly the 24-gauge stainless steel, ensuring the final product's flexibility without compromising on structural integrity.
The "ESCOLOPENDRA" Bookshelf made its debut at the I Contemporary Furniture Exhibition in December 1999, captivating audiences with its innovation and sparking a new wave of furniture design. It stood as a testament to a future where furniture was alive, dynamic and co-created with the very individuals it served.
