Minimalist furniture crafted from strips of bent aluminum in a celebration of an unconventional crafting technique.
Furniture design provides a great opportunity to explore materiality and form with imaginative concepts. Shanghai-based designer Ximi Li certainly made the most of this opportunity with the Basics collection. Created for his own Monochrome company, which is a part of Ximi Li Studio’s furniture design brand Urbancraft, this collection of indoor and outdoor furniture explores “the uncertainty of materials and craftsmanship” with a distinctive design. The range also draws inspiration from futuristic and industrial styles. Merging art, craftsmanship and design, Basics has a sculptural presence thanks to the use of lightweight aluminum in an innovative way.
All of the pieces of furniture boast bent and welded aluminum that comes together to create chairs, tables and stools. The slim, slender parts give the furniture a light, airy feel while also highlighting the malleability of the solid material. The designer intentionally left the joints and welded sections exposed to showcase the crafting method, resulting in intriguing pieces of furniture that invite the user to come closer and appreciate the different layers of the design. Additionally, the products have a raw finish with a tactile surface. The Monochrome Basics collection comprises both tables and seating. Designs include a coffee table with a glass top and a dining table with a matching bench. Apart from dining chairs, the range also includes bar stools and smaller side tables. The furniture suits indoor and outdoor areas, as well as residential or commercial spaces. Photographs © Monochrome.
