Swiss architect Giona Bierens de Haan has taken inspiration from the intricate spiked bark of the South American Ceiba tree to craft a unique furniture collection showcased in a collaborative exhibition in Geneva. This innovative Ceiba series features two shelves, a table, and four chairs, each incorporating the distinctive conical thorns characteristic of the Ceiba tree.
The genesis of this collection traces back to Bierens de Haan’s encounter with the awe-inspiring Ceiba tree on the streets of Buenos Aires. The architect was immediately captivated by the tree’s expressive allure, so much so that the memory lingered with him for years until a serendipitous request from a friend at the Geneva Botanical Garden sparked the creation of the Ceiba collection.
In an interview with Dezeen, Bierens de Haan shared, “The tree’s striking expressiveness captivated me so completely that I stood in front of it mesmerized.” This deep connection with nature served as the foundation for the organic forms and deliberate simplicity evident in each furniture piece. The architect’s vision was to blur the lines between sculpture and functionality, resulting in a collection that exudes a playful, cartoon-like quality.
Crafted from oak and finished with a water-based paint to preserve the material’s natural texture, the furniture pieces boast a tactile quality that complements their bold forms. The collection features natural oak, green oak, and black oak finishes, each carefully selected to harmonize with the others while evoking distinct emotions.
To enhance the overall presentation of the exhibition, Bierens de Haan collaborated with Swiss-Argentinian ceramist Ángeles Rodríguez to introduce a complementary collection of black sandstone ceramics called Sombra. This collaboration added an engaging layer of meaning to the showcase, elevating it beyond a traditional furniture exhibition and fostering a dialogue of shared materiality and form between the furniture and ceramic pieces.
Despite the sculptural nature of the Ceiba series, Bierens de Haan emphasized the functionality of the furniture, noting, “While the Ceiba series disrupts monotonous interiors and challenges the predictability of conventional furniture, I chose to focus on familiar forms because I wanted these designs to be accessible for everyday use.” This commitment to practicality underscores the architect’s desire to create pieces that are not only visually striking but also serve a functional purpose in everyday living spaces.
Based in Geneva, Bierens de Haan established his eponymous studio in 2018, building on a portfolio that includes the renovation of a 1960s mountain chalet in Zinal, Switzerland. The photography for the Ceiba collection was expertly captured by Dylan Perrenoud, providing a visually captivating representation of the architect’s innovative designs.
In a world where art and functionality often exist in separate realms, Giona Bierens de Haan’s Ceiba furniture collection stands as a testament to the harmonious fusion of nature-inspired aesthetics and practical design. Through his creative vision and meticulous craftsmanship, the architect invites us to reimagine the boundaries of conventional furniture and embrace the whimsical beauty of the natural world in our everyday surroundings.
