Sleek Faux Wicker Outdoor Furniture
When it comes to outdoor furniture, teak and wicker conjure certain aesthetic associations that are hard to escape. These colorful concepts employ likewise-textured fibers, but with hidden strength and simpler forms that allow for more flexible use in modern spaces.
Joel Escalona borrows from the traditional forms of garden table-and-chair sets, poolside daybeds and other exterior furnishings, but renders them in a uniquely different visual language, tying in elements of bent-wood objects and corrugated cardboard construction.
Sunbeds, dining tables, benches, all become part of a collection of that seeks balance between physical flexibility and visual cohesiveness. The real question is not whether they will hold up to the weather, but if they can support themselves structurally – only prototyping will tell for sure.
While the bar stool-and-counter system seems ingenious, letting one rock back and forth in position, it would be a shame to take a tumble from that extra-high seat … the daybed designs would be less of an issue were they to break down during use.
About designer Joel Escalona, who founded his own design studio in Mexico City in 2014:
“Pragmatic, humorous and poetic, are words that best describe Joel’s work. He believes in ideas that engage meaningfully, that push the limits of contemporary design, that have the ability of pulling people into the stories they shelter. From everyday products like faucets and pans, to extravagant limited-edition pieces and creative direction projects, Joel generates tangible value for each of his clients through his execution and narrative mastery.”
“Joel’s work has been exhibited in the mayor design events around the world like Maison & Objet Paris, Salone Internazionale del Mobile Di Milano, Design Miami/Basel, ZⓢONAMACO in Mexico City, among others. Throughout the years his work has also been featured in the most prestigious design publications and books, generating editorial value for his clients, projects and collaborators.”
