Continuing his longtime “Mechanical Cabinet” series, Errazuriz offers modular furniture that doubles as interactive art. Currently based in New York, the Chilean-born, London-raised artist blends traditional woodworking and technological components with unexpected forms to produce fascinating transforming pieces.

At first glance, many of these cabinets and credenzas just seem like beautiful things to look at; the functionality they have to offer is hidden beneath the complexities at the surface. But once you peel back the layers to reveal what’s underneath, you learn that they are just as usable as any piece that overtly prioritizes function over form.

Seeing the pieces in action is fascinating. Just when you think the object can’t transform any more than it already has, Errazuriz demonstrates yet another way in which it can blossom like an alien flower. The Magistral Chest looks inhospitably spiked when closed up, protecting drawers full of mysteries at its heart. The Fan Cabinet unfurls like a tropical bird concealing row after row of dazzling feathers beneath an unremarkable exterior. The Grand Complication Cabinet is especially deserving of its name, starting out small and unfolding one component after another. Other cabinets in the collection spin, twist, and even reveal beautiful kaleidoscopic displays.

“Breaking the Box” is a solo presentation of Errazuriz’s new work, currently on display at New York City’s R & Company gallery. The curators note the mechanical brilliance of the pieces, each of which requires a high level of technical precision to be used to its fullest potential. Other pieces on display at the show include works from Errazuriz’s “Metamorphosis” series, which feature taxidermy birds from the artist’s native Chilean landscape.

The R & Company website reads: “’Breaking the Box’ presents a curated selection of Errazuriz’s newest functional sculptures, [which] exemplify his multifaceted practice and evolution as a contemporary artist and designer. The diverse work on view challenges the boundaries between art, design, and technology while inviting the viewer to question their purpose and function. His experimental approach to this new series is seen through the varying materials and stylistic methods he employs. Unified together thematically through their ongoing exploration of nature, humor, life, and death, Errazuriz encourages viewers to engage and discover the new works in the exhibition.”

Speaking on the project himself, Errazuriz says: “We tend to understand reality by constraining meaning into closed and simplified boxes defined by previous cultural convention. We live within these pre-established cognitive borders, where we only tend to see, recognize, and accept as true that which has been previously ordered and defined. In ‘Breaking the Box,’ I use art, design, and craft to break open our relationship to objects, function, beauty, and time in order to reconsider conventions.”

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Italian design collective Studio NINE presents “Stüda,” a collection of modular furniture pieces with LEGO bases built right onto their surfaces. More specifically, the collection consists of a credenza and an open storage cube. The two pieces are streamlined and simple, with clean angles that would fit right into most contemporary home decors. From afar, you might not even notice anything unusual about them, but upon further inspection, you’ll recognize that distinct pattern of round pegs printed on their exteriors.

The furniture is versatile enough to blend with several different styles and can match the interior design of almost any house. If you prefer graphic minimalism, all you need to do is add a few LEGO bricks in a controlled palette to make a unique statement that works for your space. More of a maximalist? You can also pile on dozens of LEGO elements to build the furniture’s surfaces out in a fresh and creative way. Just like any LEGO project, it’s as understated or complex as you want it to be. Create a custom pattern, spell out your company name, illustrate a fantasy landscape, or design your own cityscape. Just try not to drop too many pieces on the ground, lest you experience the dreaded collision between LEGO bricks and the sensitive soles of your feet.

If you’re concerned about how the exteriors might look over time, we have some good news for you. Corian is a highly durable composite surface material and it’s easy to clean. While you might cringe any time a grubby-handed child approaches any other piece of modern furniture, Stüda is ready to take whatever the kids can dish out. On top of being kid-friendly, these pieces will also bring a whole lot of joy to the adults that order them. In fact, that’s really what the designers had in mind when they dreamed up these fun and functional objects.

“Our office is full of AFOL (Adult Fans of LEGO), so we simply listened to our needs,” says Paolo Bellisario, co-founder of Studio NINE. “We simply wanted something creative, but useful; something we were using in our houses already.”

The second bit of good news is that the Stüda furniture collection isn’t just a concept — it’s a real product. Available in white or yellow with steel supports, the pieces will soon be ready to purchase for individual order or as a set. The collection will be accessible through MOOW, an Italian manufacturer of innovative furniture made by a team of carpenters, craftspeople, and product developers. The LEGO bricks aren’t included, but they’re a lot easier to procure.

If you had the blank canvases of these modular furniture designs in front of you right now along with a big bucket of LEGO bricks, what would you create?

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Kauri wood — the most ancient wood on earth, according to Riva 1920 — was used to craft the credenza. It is 50,000-years-old and has been aged under mud and water for thousands of years in Auckland, New Zealand.

You can reveal the DeKauri’s hidden interiors by sliding its two main rustic yet modern doors to the side. When open, a washbin by Dekton (a subsidiary of Cosentino) serves as the main focal point. Made from an ultra-compact surfacing material, this washbin boasts low water absorption and is made to be scratch, stain, UV, and impact-resistant. Juniper Design played their part by providing the vanity with a rectangular mirror and bright lighting. The interior also features a beautiful gold faucet from the “Fantini AF/21” collection by Fantini Rubinetti.
Germani planned to turn heads by incorporating materials that were visually appealing but that also resembled the freshness of Mother Nature. The combination of natural stone and Kauri wood creates an exotic yet humble aesthetic. The vanity is also available in cedar, walnut, and wenge wood.

Daniel Germani is a familiar face to both companies, as this is his fifth collaboration with Cosentino and his second with Riva 1920. He recognizes that design is constantly evolving and that there are always new and fresh ways to spice up a space. When it comes to bathroom design, he feels as if not enough has changed. “When it comes to the kitchen there are ingenious, innovative design solutions to hide and store everything,” he explains. “But that’s not always the case in the bathroom. I realized bathroom storage has at its core remained the same.” That gave him the idea to conceal both sink and storage in a freestanding piece of furniture.
“DeKauri transforms incredibly utilitarian parts of the bath into something incredibly beautiful. It helps take away the feeling of being in a bathroom. I could very easily see this in a master suite, a power room, or even in an open-concept bedroom where the sleeping space and bath flow into one another.”

After the credenza received such widespread acclaim at KBIS, Cosentino announced that it also planned to exhibit DeKauri at Salone Milan in April, where it will likely continue to wow the masses.
“Cosentino is thrilled to continue its collaboration with Daniel Germani alongside Riva 1920, a brand admired across the globe for its artisanship of classically styled wood furniture”, says Massimo Ballucchi, Marketing Director of Cosentino North America. “We continue to be inspired by Daniel’s innovative approach to furniture design and the unlimited applications he envisions for Dekton, and we hope it inspires the industry, as well. He’s truly a visionary, and it’s an honor to work with him.”

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A range of furniture from French designer Géraldine Biard is meant to provide comfort and relaxation for people living with dementia. The line, called Jardin d’Hiver, includes a credenza, a console table, and two bedside tables. Each is meant to stimulate the senses of touch, sight, and smell.

On each tabletop is a tiny simulated mountain range rising out of the Corian material. The topography provides a gentle surface to run one’s hand over, an action that stimulates the sense of touch. This stimulation is an important part of Alzheimer’s and dementia care as it keeps the brain working.

The tabletop “mountains” also act as a aromatherapy center. They dispense soothing aromas which engage the sense of smell and can provide comfort when a dementia patient is feeling agitated or restless.

Finally, the tables all provide gentle light therapy as well. An internal light shines softly through the translucent Corian, illuminating a relaxing mountain scene. The designer sees the pieces as moving with the patient from home to a care home if that should become necessary. The consistency of being surrounded with familiar furniture can help decrease a dementia patient’s agitation levels and make them feel more comfortable overall.

Here’s a description of the collection from the designer:

“Jardin d’Hiver is a collection of furniture for relaxation composed of two beside cabinets, a console and a credenza. Every piece is integrating aromatherapy and light therapy to alleviate sleep disturbances and anxiety, and engages the user’s sight, smell and tactile senses. The translucent and strength qualities of Corian® have been used to design the top section of the pieces. The design evokes an open window into a snow covered landscape, where the aromatherapy emanates from a sculpted mountain, and the light therapy diffuses behind a graphic scenery that invites the individual to envisage a faraway relaxing landscape.”

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