The Dutch designer Linde Freya Tangelder diverts architectural elements, materials or construction techniques to imagine her works. Between art and design.
Based between Brussels and Antwerp, Linde Freya Tangelder trained at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, a reference for creative design art, very popular in Belgium. She founded her studio in 2014 and then her brand, Destroyers/Builders, letting the opportunities come to her. Since being voted Designer of the Year in 2019, beautiful collaborations have highlighted her work. With Valerie Objects, she created the Assemble modular sofa and the Etage aluminum shelf, in unlimited edition. Solicited by the luxury brand Dior, she participates, in 2020, among a panel of renowned designers, in the project of reinterpretation of the iconic medallion chair. But it was the Italian company Cassina that propelled it onto the international scene, offering it the opportunity to produce signature furniture. The Italian publisher goes further, offering its patronage for his personal exhibition at the Carwan Gallery in Athens in early 2022.
Mut the young artist, more accustomed to the freedom of expression of the prestigious school of Eindhoven and its opening towards the concrete practices of materials, must confront the constraints of the industrial production. At the 2022 Milan Motor Show, Cassina presents three poufs and a coffee table from the Soft Corners collection designed by Linde Freya Tangelder, along with international stars Philippe Starck, Patricia Urquiola, the Bouroullec brothers…
Building materials as a means of expression
In her research on the material, the designer’s hand exploits the techniques of masonry or stone cutting, until obtaining finishes from abstract architectural forms, reminiscent of the modernism movement. The rough and polished finishes of noble or more common materials transform the volumetry into a tactile object. Solid wood, cast aluminum, blown glass and folded metal are the materials that convey an imaginary landscape conceived by the artist. These very accomplished pieces of furniture open the field of possibilities between the industrial and the artisanal. If they have an incredible, sculptural strength, they also exalt a soft sensuality and implicitly resonate with disused places.
An approach that the artist founded with Brut Collective, with whom she shares the careful staging in a common vision of the scenography and the development of their respective work. These five Belgian artists have the same approach to design and art, more instinctive, organic, even abrupt, detached from any function. By grouping together, the collective optimizes the exhibitions in terms of space rental and logistics. A strong and intelligent way to acquire visibility and credibility on the international scene.
Anne Swynghedauw
Find our special report “Design Next Gen” in the issue 214 of Intramuros, available in newsstands, in partner bookstores and concept stores, and on our online store.
