wendy andreu’s experiments with rope, aluminum, and steel result in functional objects

french craft designer wendy andreu‘s creative process is based on material research and experimentation, which she then applies to functional design proposals, such as seating elements, sculptural stools, and architectural shelves. the recent design academy eindhoven graduate, whose client list includes fashion designer rick owens and faye toogood, has developed various techniques that combine standard materials in innovative ways, resulting in pieces of both quality and aesthetic value.

all images courtesy of wendy andreu

images of regen – seating elements by vanni bassetti

born in 1990 in oloron-ste-marie, france, wendy andreu completed her studies at the public/private department of design academy eindhoven, where she also first developed her regen technique. using cotton rope and silicone, andreu has created a fabric with multiple uses in the fields of architecture, interiors, and fashion. the latest developments in her regen series, are the three seating elements, which are shaped directly in 3D around strong metal templates to create soft and comfortable surfaces.

another material andreu has experimented with is aluminum, which she has developed into architectural shelves in collaboration with bram vanderbeke. first exhibited during dutch design week 2017 at the hardcore exhibition, double pyramid is based on a construction system that does not require screws, rivets, or welds, and is easy to assemble and dismantle. the system has been further developed into the fat pyramid & regular pyramid, two designs that are also made out of flat, laser-cut sheets of aluminum combined in different shapes. 

the designer’s latest project is titled 8 legged stools on wheels, and comprises a series of sculptural stools carefully handcrafted in steel, and patinated following two types of hues: black shaded color way and decay color way. by over-exaggerating the stool’s features, namely the legs, the piece acquires a certain heaviness which requires it to be carried on wheels.

images of double pyramid by core studio

project info:

designer: wendy andreu