Bernardes Bench – All photos courtesy PAU/Cru Furniture.
Sometimes design rhymes with divine, literally. Spanish designer Andreu Carulla created Bernardes, a collection of seatings modeled on the benches of a convent. Material austerity and smooth shapes define the features of a proper holy sit.
Bernardes Chair.
The collection comprises a bench, a chair and an armchair that are handcrafted from beech wood and wickerwork. “The seatings capture the austerity and discretion attached to a religious ambiance and translate it into a seat, while making it comfortable as well” says Andreu Carulla.
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Bernardes Armchair.
The chair and armchair were commissioned by Rossana Orlandi as an outdoor seating set for her Spazio in Milan. The seatings take cues from their predecessor. Their handcrafted monastic look is designed to wrap a holy sit properly and invite to relax.
“Bernardes collection has a lightweight appearance yet its materials make it robust and enduring” adds Andrea Carulla. Indeed, the ageless appeal and sobriety of the Bernardes series is designed to stand the test of time.
The series was inspired by Les Bernardes Cultural Center a former convent “converted” into an art gallery and cultural centre in Salt near Girona in Catalonia.
Andreu Carulla founded its multidisciplinary studio in Catalunia creating lighting, tableware, automotive, technology and art while providing full personalised advice throughout the whole design process.
The Bernardes series was designed for Cru, a Catalan company with a long history in woodworking. Cru creates premium furniture using traditional manufacturing techniques to emphasise the inherent qualities found in locally sourced materials.
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All photos courtesy PAU/Cru Furniture.
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