sam baron / fabrica: objet préféré at grand-hornu images

fabrica: objet préféré
grand-hornu images, belgium
on now until october 23, 2011



'appartamento' by fabrica for grand-hornu images
all images by gustavo millon, courtesy of fabrica


the design team of fabrica, benetton's communication research center in treviso, italy, and its art director sam baron,
have created the 15-piece furniture collection, 'objet préféré'. conceived in collaboration with grand-hornu images,
the works interpret the favorite objects of the belgian art and design center's employees,
ranging from the practical (computer) to the sentimental (pair of baby shoes). named after the objects they draw from,
the resulting works reflect the personal attachment of each who mentioned their item,
but also expand to include a greater audience with their simple and universal functionality.

'the main challenge of this project was to illustrate, by means of a unique and special exhibition,
the beauty of the favorite objects of grand-hornu personnel,' says baron.
'design therefore becomes a way of uniting communities of people of different background, language and age.'

designboom recently sat down with sam baron at the scuola politecnica di design in milan and discussed the
'objet préféré' exhibition:






'scarpette teschio'


françoise foulon, director of grand-hornu, stated her first pair of shoes were her favorite object.
not only a gift from her 91-year-old mother, the baby shoes represent her first steps and the growth that followed.
this memory is transposed into 'scarpette teschio,' a set of shelves which can be nested or expanded based on the available space.



'scarpette teschio,' side view



'scarpette teschio,' compressed configuration



'lampadario'


the concierge maryvonne dislikes darkness and thus names modern chandeliers as her favorite objects, for their light and optimism.
the resulting work, 'lampadario,' features a single light bulb as chandelier, hanging suspended over four gathered chairs.  



'album foto'



'album foto,' rear view



'album foto' detail, slot for photo album



'forchetta'


translating as fork, 'forchetta' takes its concept from the educational department's marie-jeanne vanaise,
who said her favorite object was an 18th-century silver fork displayed in seneffe castle.
sharp and yet recalling the curves of a female figure, the object is made further enticing by its untouchable display.
'forchetta' takes on a similar sense of duality and showmanship with its upright arrangement of plates.



'viaggi in treno' (train journeys)



'voliera'


named after the italian word for 'aviary,' this object is created for david vilain, an electrician at grand-hornu,
based on the one in his garden where he breeds hundreds of birds.
'voliera' is designed to reflect vilain's joy from taking care of the birds, hearing them sing, and seeing them grow.



'libri' (books)



'giardino' (garden)



'profumo' (perfume)



'computer'



'letto' (bed)



'letto' detail



'coltello' (knife)



'spilla' (brooch)



'bicchiere birra' (beer glass)



concept sketch




concept sketch




grand-hornu workers respond to the question, 'what is your favorite object?' (apologies, but this video is only available in french)

baron also talked to designboom about his role at fabrica, his own freelance work and his design approach: