Camaïeu

MODERNISM AND TRADITION
DEFYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME Tectona & Villa Medici
Tectona Workshop
AN INSPIRED TWIST AT EDEN ROC ASCONA
The

DEFYING THE PASSAGE OF TIME Tectona & Villa Medici
AN INSPIRED TWIST AT EDEN ROC ASCONA
This issue of T Magazine is dedicated to green, a colour naturally associated with our world. Above all, it conjures up images of gardens, where a green camaïeu is on display all year round. The soft green of spring shoots, the bold green of pastures at the start of summer, the reddish greens of autumn and the deep hues of evergreens in winter. Green arises when blue and yellow come together, midway between profundity and lightness, between the sea and the sun. A palette of greens awaits you in the following pages, from the subtle to the striking, according to the imagination of the designers and our iconic creations.
Acid green. In Rome, the lemon garden of Villa Medici was reimagined by Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets. Fien Muller and Hannes van Severen are the creative minds behind the furniture in the garden: a collection, now available in the Tectona catalogue, consisting of an armchair, a sun lounger and a table, in green or white.
Pop art green. Sketched and stylised by designer Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska, the hollyhock, Alcea for botanists, became the floral graphic adorning the Alcea collection of trays in lacquered wood. The trays can be propped up against a wall as works of art.
Baroque green. Over the years, our 1800 collection has taken up residence in some of the most stunning destinations around the world, such as Eden Roc Ascona on the shores of Lake Maggiore. The hotel recently underwent an extensive
renovation by Carlo Rampazzi. For the armchair and sofa cushions of the 1800, the architect decided to use a fabric inspired by the motifs of San Rocco Ascona ceramics, which were in vogue in the 1960s. The fabric, exclusive to Eden Roc, combines beautifully with the 1800 in anthracite.
Transparent green. This is a very specific colour, fluctuating between a barely perceptible green and the silver patina of teak. For nearly 50 years, Glenwood benches have been offering relaxation to visitors in the garden of Musée Rodin in Paris. The patina naturally develops over time in teak and perfectly offsets the bronze of the sculptures by the master Auguste Rodin.
Green, symbol of eternal youth!Thanks to our Workshop in the heart of Normandy, our furniture can defy the elements and have a second youth. The outdoor life is not an easy one! Slats, armrests or legs of teak furniture may be damaged or break, the powder coating of aluminium pieces may chip, parasol ribs may snap – these problems vanish in the hands of our experts at the Workshop.
The final pages provide some suggestions for passing the winter in comfort. We look back at some of our timeless models in teak, our favourite wood that we admire for its ability to defy the passage of time and transcend passing fads to sublimate the art of outdoor living!
By Marie Godfrain
Playground for artists and creatives since the Renaissance, Villa Medici, in Rome, is constantly reinventing itself. Among recent projects launched by its director Sam Stourdzé is the renovation of the lemon garden in collaboration with Tectona.
Artists’ residence, art centre and key heritage site of Rome, Villa Medici, the French Academy in Rome, deploys this vision when commissioning contemporary creators for its rooms, salons and outdoor areas. Among these spaces, the discreet triangular lemon garden, located next to the mansion’s left wall and providing a stunning view of Rome, was one that Sam Stourdzé, Director of Villa Medici, was particularly keen to renovate. The garden has just reopened to the Villa’s residents, after being fully reimagined by the Belgian landscape architect Bas Smets, who introduced 29 citrus trees (lemon, bitter orange and citron trees) and installed a 26-metre pergola.
« In common with the rest of Villa Medici, a Renaissance masterpiece, we wanted to bring together heritage and creation by commissioning contemporary designers » details Sam Stourdzé, an ardent defender of dialogue between different eras, a philosophy that he has long shared with Tectona since managing Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles. It was therefore natural that both parties would combine energies for this exceptional project to make furniture for the lemon garden.
Together, they selected the Belgian design duo Fien Muller and Hannes Van Severen « for the purity and intelligence of their design » to design the furniture to be placed on the lawns, under the arbour and in the shade of the lemon and bitter orange trees. « Our shared ambition with Tectona was to find the best designers to design contemporary and timeless lines that would vie with the greatest creations at the Villa » recalls the Director of Villa Medici.
Won over by the project, Muller Van Severen decided on the triangle idea while strolling through the Villa and noticing triangles as a recurring theme, most notably the shape of the lemon garden. « We want to show that it’s possible to be contemporary and embrace architectures, an environment from another era» analyse the duo.
They incorporated this particular geometric form at the ends of the coloured metal slats used in their chairs, sun loungers and tables. The result is « A collection of radical contours, with the sun lounger evoking the golden age of modernism » according to Sam Stourdzé, who also notes as references « arrows spanning the period from the Renaissance to Richard Peduzzi, former Director of the Villa and creator of the triangle-shaped suspensions in the cafeteria.»
The collection is destined for a long and prosperous life now that it has entered the Tectona catalogue. « We also wanted this project, which was designed for us, to be made available to the general public because the Villa should serve as an ‘influencer’ of sorts for contemporary decorative arts. This collection is the perfect manifestation of this idea – it can be appropriated by anyone and it stirs the imagination powerfully,» concludes Sam Stourdzé.
CHAIR
TABLE
COSIMO DE'MEDICI COLLECTION
40,5 × 49 cm
Available in : White Green
COSIMO DE'MEDICI COLLECTION
74,5 × 74,5 cm
Available in : White Green
COSIMO DE'MEDICI COLLECTION
52,5 × 163,5 cm
Available in : White Green
By Marie Farman
For her first collaboration with Tectona, the French-Polish designer Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska imagined trays in lacquered wood illustrated with a floral design. Like works of art, they invite contemplation – here through the subtle interplay between stylised motifs and spring hues.
With its slender silhouette and its long stems teeming with flowers, hollyhock is a particular source of inspiration for Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska. This wild plant embellishes gardens and grows where we don’t expect it to grow, from pavements to field edges. Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska explains how serving trays became the latest habitat of hollyhock: « For this project, I wanted to find inspiration in the world of gardening, in keeping with Tectona’s DNA. This flower, which I love, is widespread in France but also in Poland and all Baltic countries. It seemed to me a brilliant analogy for connecting my two cultures. » Such was the creative impulse that gave rise to Alcea, as this new collection of trays was named.
As part of their ongoing mission to seek out singular talents, Tectona were delighted to entrust a project to Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska, whose trajectory and aesthetic vision are outstanding. After completing her studies at ECAL, the prestigious school of art and design in Lausanne, she launched her career at Kreo gallery in Paris where she was responsible for the production of pieces by the designer Konstantin Grcic. This experience held her in good stead, as she went on to found her own design and research studio in Warsaw in 2012. Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska has worked on a wide range of projects: industrial design, exhibition design, furniture, and has the firm conviction that multidisciplinarity generates pertinent responses to contemporary issues. This openness has led her to collaborate with international brands and large institutions, from the Saint-Étienne International Design Biennial to the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw. She also maintains a close relationship with Villa Noailles in Hyères, having been a finalist in the Design Parade competition for young designers.
For Tectona, Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska created the decor for four trays in lacquered wood, transforming an everyday functional object into a new medium for artistic expression. « I imagined the tray as a framed drawing, to be placed against a wall, in the kitchen or elsewhere. I like the idea that this object evokes something other than its primary function,» she explains. The motifs, inspired by the stems and buds of hollyhock, were first drawn by hand because, in her words, « I wanted people to feel that movement. The retranscription of my drawing is enhanced by the quality and the subtlety of the lacquer ». As for colours, Maria Jeglinska-Adamczewska works with a palette of greens, from forest green to meadow green. These cool spring hues combine to create a rhythm and a soft contrast. With the Alcea tray collection, the designer contributes to the beautification of the everyday environment through expressive and evocative objects.
55,3 × 35,3 cm
55,3 × 35,3 cm
32,8 × 26,3 cm
32,8 × 26,3 cm
By Elsa Cau
Photographs by Enrico Costantini
The 1800 collection can be found in the gardens of the 5-star Hotel Eden Roc nestled on the banks of Lake Maggiore. For the occasion, it has been bedecked in a fabric inspired by the local ceramics of San Rocco Ascona.
It evokes a cruise ship cutting through the waves, its sails fluttering in the wind: that’s the first image that comes to mind as you arrive at the Hotel Eden Roc located on the shores of Lake Maggiore. This magnificent hotel dating from the 1970s recently underwent a restoration and modernisation, making it more resplendent and panoramic than ever: wide glazed walls, glass everywhere you look and beautiful balconies on the gently inclined banks of the lake reinforce the impression of a floating vessel. Well, almost... The building remains well ‘anchored’ to Swiss ground and offers a cornucopia of delights as a 5-star beach resort: a private beach, 95 rooms and suites, 4 restaurants including the 2-Michelin-starred La Brezza, a 2000 m2 spa with bien sûr a 180° view of Lake Maggiore, and a private marina hosting a watersports centre.
Indoors, Carlo Rampazzi, historic interior designer of the Tschuggen Collection, has created a discreet, elegant and contemporary decor. He has been working with the hotel’s owners for a long time and on this occasion they jointly decided to blend the Mediterranean lifestyle with noble materials: dark woods, light fabrics, glass to reflect light. It is however the outdoors that interests us most: guided by an old plan of the gardens, the verdant 10,000 m2 paradise with direct access to the lake and the private port, was refurbished and, more importantly, renovated. This is where you’ll find Tectona furniture, specifically the 1800 collection inspired by the neoclassic elegance of the Directory period (1795-1799); airy use of powder-coated aluminium is a thoughtful reinterpretation of the style of the Late Golden Age of the French decorative arts.
For its Garden of Eden, the hotel chose the lounge in black with, however, a unique variation: Carlo Rampazzi drew inspiration from the ceramics heritage of San Rocco Ascona to develop a collection of outdoor fabrics for the exclusive use of Hotel Eden Roc. « We decided to create a specific motif for the fabric, but rooted in the history of Ascona, » explains Michela Rampazzi, sister of Carlo Rampazzi. « We then thought of the old ceramics made here. It’s not easy to find them… Luckily, while rummaging around some family possessions, I came across three original plates, beautiful pieces of Ascona ceramic from the 1940s. Wonderful! »
The discovery was the starting point for the creative process: recreating the handpainted motifs and reinterpreting the stylised birds, the leaves and the arabesques typical of the era. The dominant hues, greens and whites, reinforce the local visual heritage while also evoking a certain timeless freshness. All in all, a fitting tribute to the craftsmanship of Ascona that continues to uphold the SwissItalian dolce vita throughout the year.
LOW ARMCHAIR
1800 COLLECTION
81 × 91 cm
THREE-SEATER SOFA
1800 COLLECTION
227 × 91 cm
RECTANGULAR
COFFEE TABLE
1800 COLLECTION
116 × 63 cm
SUN LOUNGER
1800 COLLECTION
220 × 75 cm
SQUARE
COFFEE TABLE
1800 COLLECTION
75 × 75 cm
By Serge Gleizes
Photographies par Jérôme Manoukian
The rapport between Musée Rodin and Tectona dates back to their first tie-up in the 1980s, when the brand provided benches from its Glenwood collection for the museum’s garden. This flagship line represents everything the brand holds dear: craftsmanship, durability and elegance.
It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful gardens in Paris – and, at three hectares, one of the largest green spaces too. Its success derives not only from its history, but its address in the heart of the very chic 7th arrondissement. Around the romantic lake, ancient trees mingle with sculptures by the illustrious former owner of the site, Auguste Rodin (1840–1917). One of the centrepieces is Porte de l’Enfer, to which contributed Camille Claudel, muse, companion and also a talented sculptor.
Tectona’s Glenwood collection was a natural fit for this setting: it looks like it’s always been there. Made from teak, the quintessential noble wood that gains a delicate grey patina over time, its silhouette was inspired by that of benches in English parks. The benches and armchairs are fabricated the traditional way, using mortise and tenon joints, conferring high durability. Indeed, nothing has changed since fifty years ago, except for some slats that were replaced in 2004 – it was also the first time the seats were cleaned.
It was in 1916 that Rodin donated Hôtel Biron, where he was living, and its impressive collections to the State; the act was made official in 1919. The 18thcentury Rococo-style mansion was first inhabited by the Duchess of Maine, daughter-in-law of Louis XIV. The next occupant was the man who the mansion is named after: the Marshall of Biron. In the 19th century, the building housed a religious congregation, the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, having the future Empress of the French, Eugénie de Montijo, as a resident from 1835 to 1839. Cocteau and Matisse also had their workshop there. Within the walls of Hôtel Biron (one of the two sites of Musée Rodin, the other being the Villa des Brillants in Meudon, close to Paris) are thousands of sculptures, drawings, old photographs, works of art… The 19th-century chapel also houses an exhibition room that was entirely renovated in 2005.
BENCH 120 CM
GLENWOOD COLLECTION
In teak and Imperial teak
120 × 64 cm
BENCH 150 CM
GLENWOOD COLLECTION
In teak and Imperial teak
150 × 64 cm
BENCH 180 CM
GLENWOOD COLLECTION
In teak and Imperial teak
180 × 64 cm
BENCH 240 CM
GLENWOOD COLLECTION
In teak and Imperial teak
240 × 64 cm
By Alyette Debray
Durability is one of Tectona’s core values. In Normandy, their workshop gives a new lease of life to garden furniture by restoring, repairing and fitting new parasol canopies. A service that is very much in vogue.
Doudeville, a small village of 2500 inhabitants in the heart of the Pays de Caux region of Normandy. This is where Tectona creations are conceived, prototyped and stored. It’s also where, more than twenty years ago, under the guidance of Jean-Yves Grandfils, recipient of the Meilleur Ouvrier de France distinction, Tectona established their Workshop to carry out restorations, thereby giving new life to tables, chairs and deckchairs in teak, and restoring to mint condition parasols whose ribs have suffered wear and tear or aluminium armchairs whose paint is flaking off.
At the dawn of their 50th year, Tectona continue to uphold their commitment to durability, with creations designed to spend many years outdoors and with an exceptional Workshop extending this philosophy.
Devotees of the brand are fond of patina, the silvery colour that develops in teak over time. Tectona pieces are recognisable by their unique character, a certain irresistible charm, unchanging from generation to generation. This is why, at Doudeville, the teams at the Tectona Workshop perform miracles.
Teak is an exotic wood reputed for its resistance to rain, to wood-eating insects, to cold but also to heat. If you’re wondering how it achieves this, the answer is the oil it secretes. An oil that provides nourishment but also protection from adverse weather conditions. After many years of faithful service, teak furniture is not immune to a damaged slat, or a broken leg or armrest. Xavier Legendre, a cabinetmaker by training who now heads the Workshop, can repair everything. A manifestation of the durability principle dear to Tectona. He offers an initial diagnosis from a photo then, after receiving the furniture, generates a quote. His intervention is akin to a facelift. He begins by dismantling the item of furniture then he scratches away the traces of glue and cleans the joints. He then creates an identical replica of the part to be replaced and attaches it, possibly with the aid of a dowel. « Like a good old-fashioned Normandy wardrobe, » he remarks. All that remains is to sand then clean the wood. What if the colour is not exactly the same as it was? Not to worry! In two or three months, the teak will have developed the grey hue it is renowned for.
The pros of aluminium furniture pieces, such as those from the iconic 1800 and Bamboo collections, is that they never rust and they are easy to move and to store. Over time, however, this type of handling can give rise to small chips. In such cases, experts at the Workshop can restore the powder coating of this furniture for you. The process begins by scrubbing in order to clean the surface and obtain a clean matt base. Next, a new layer of powder lacquer is applied, then cured in an oven at 200°. The process is a guarantee of higher resistance to bumps that will be passed down from generation to generation.
We do not need to remind you that you should close your parasol after every use in order to avoid unfortunate incidents from a gust of wind or a passing pigeon that soils your beautiful canopy. Or that in winter you should place a protective cover over the parasol, after ensuring that it’s completely dry so that mould doesn’t develop. Despite these precautions, parasols remain fragile items. The Tectona Workshop is unique in providing a service to repair a parasol’s ribs or change its canopy. « We receive parasols more than 40 years old,» remarks Xavier Legendre. The principle is always the same: dismantle, clean, check the ribs then fit the new canopy. You can also take advantage of the process to choose a new parasol colour: there are 12 solid colours to choose from and they can be combined with a colourful cord. « Customers can, if they want, change the parasol canopy by themselves, using the tutorial available online. However I should make it clear that the job is complex and meticulous. You need the right tools and a good few hours ahead of you.»
Designed to be both beautiful and comfortable, Glenwood offers a wide, deep seat, a backrest high enough to provide perfect support, and gently curved armrests for relaxed placement of the arms. The mortise-and-tenon joints and the shaping of the rear legs, carved in one solid piece of teak, ensure not only the stability of the furniture but also remarkable strength, making it destined for a long life outdoors..
GLENWOOD ARMCHAIR
In teak and Imperial teak
58 × 64 cm
BENCH
In teak and Imperial teak
180 × 64 cm
.02
.01
American cinema is fond of this armchair — in the collective imagination, it represents infinite possibilities. On a porch facing the Great Plains or mountains on the horizon, the Adirondack chair is both welcoming and imposing, a fragment of the American Dream. At Tectona, we evaluated its comfort and improved it by creating additional pieces: a footrest that transforms the armchair into a lounger and a small folding table should you require more space than that provided by the wide armrests.
ADIRONDACK ARMCHAIR
ADIRONDACK COFFEE TABLE
Biblos is a rotating and mobile indoor bookcase made from satin-varnished teak. The obelisk form invites you to take a trip to Ancient Egypt, to pay homage to the famous library of Alexandria. It was designed by a book lover: it holds books of any size along its entire height, from your favourite pocketsized novels to your favourite oversized artbooks, all of which are easily viewed and rapidly pulled out.
Ideal for reading or for discussing the big issues of the day while comfortably seated by a fireside, this bridge armchair blends into any setting, outdoors or indoors. It features a generous seat and a curved backrest that hugs the occupier. Openwork slats help to lighten the visual impact.
France
Stores
Paris 36 rue du Bac 75007 Paris +33 1 47 03 38 05 paris@tectona.fr
Saint-Rémy de Provence 7 avenue Albin Gilles 13210 Saint-Rémy de Provence +33 4 32 62 05 05 saintremy@tectona.fr
Vallauris 3015 chemin Saint-Bernard 06225 Vallauris +33 4 92 96 92 29 vallauris@tectona.fr
Order
www.tectona.fr info@tectona.fr +33 1 47 03 05 05 36 rue du Bac, 75007 Paris
Contract
Marion Guéroult mg@tectona.fr +33 7 86 34 21 99
Mireille Vosgien PACA region m.vosgien@tectona.fr +33 6 84 95 99 42
Switzerland
Store
Nyon Avenue Viollier 4 1260 Nyon +41 22 700 10 10 suisse@tectona.ch
Spain
Italy
Store
Madrid Calle de Claudio Coello 22 28001 Madrid +34 91 781 18 45 madrid@tectona.es
Store
Milan Via della Moscova 47/A 20121 Milan +39 02 65 34 23 milano@tectona.it
Order
www.tectona.ch suisse@tectona.ch +41 22 700 10 10
Contract
Roberto Bolzoni rb@tectona.ch +41 79 322 84 31
Order
www.tectona.es madrid@tectona.es +34 91 781 18 45
Contract
Mar Izquierdo mizquierdo@tectona.es +34 627 57 93 12
Order
www.tectona.it milano@tectona.it +39 02 65 34 23
Contract
Massimo Bufi m.bufi@tectona.it +39 351 39 69 798
Order
www.tectona.pt portugal@tectona.pt +35 19 22 27 92 60
Contract
Mariana Abreu Lima ml@tectona.pt +351 922 279 260
United States
Portugal All countries
Online
www.tectona.fr info@tectona.fr
Order
www.tectona.fr usa@tectona.fr +33 1 47 03 05 05
Contract
Mariana Abreu Lima ml@tectona.pt +351 922 279 260
Florida Allison Vaughn a.vaughn@tectona.fr 001 772 882 5749
Order
+33 1 47 03 05 05