Matthieu Blazy And Bottega Veneta Partner With Cassina And Fondation Le Corbusier On Milan Design Week Installation “On The Rocks”
This Milan Design Week, Bottega Veneta partners with Cassina and Fondation Le Corbusier to present On the Rocks, a large-scale installation at Palazzo San Fedele, Milan. Under the creative direction of Matthieu Blazy, the installation centers on the LC14 Tabouret Cabanon, a timeless icon of Le Corbusier that embodies the excellence of the Cassina carpentry workshop.
The LC14 Tabouret was originally designed by Le Corbusier for his own cabin, or “cabanon”, at Roquebrune-Cap-Martin on the Côte d’Azur. This 3.66 x 3.66-meter space was conceived as an ultimate expression of minimalism, with simple box-shaped furnishings. Simple, sophisticated, and versatile, the Tabouret was inspired by a wooden whiskey box that Le Corbusier found washed up on the rocks beneath Le Cabanon. The design features masterful dovetail joints, highlighting the connecting points between the solid wood pieces. Oblong openings along each side make the piece readily moveable and adaptable.
On the Rocks will feature custom editions of the LC14 Tabouret, originally commissioned by Matthieu Blazy for the Bottega Veneta Winter 24 show set, along with a new limited-edition tribute, in signature Bottega Veneta leatherwork. The wooden editions feature a special charred-wood technique, based on traditional Japanese methods that provides natural protection to the wood while revealing the unique patterns of the wood grain.
The leather editions are available in four colors: red, yellow, blue, and raintree green. Each piece is completely covered with Bottega Veneta’s Intreccio foulard technique, woven by hand at the house’s artisanal atelier in Montebello, near Vicenza. A special brushwork technique covers the leather with coloured paint, followed by a layer of black paint, which is partially removed to create a unique, textured finish that also renders each piece one-of-a-kind. 60 leather editions and 100 wooden editions will be available for purchase.
The title of the installation reflects the origin story of the Tabouret, nodding to the coastal setting of Le Corbusier’s Cabanon and the whiskey box that inspired the design. An original sample of this box will also be displayed. The installation campaign, shot by Pierre Debusschere, features Anok Yai sitting and holding the leather tribute to the Tabouret.
“It was so inspiring working with Matthieu and Bottega Veneta on this shoot, celebrating such an iconic piece of design,” says Yai. “The collaborative environment and the versatility of the Tabouret created a real sense of openness and ease, empowering me to be dark, naked, and free.”
On the Rocks will be open to the public from April 16–20. The exhibition will give visitors a glimpse into Palazzo San Fedele, which will become the new Bottega Veneta headquarters in September 2024. The historic building, nestled in the heart of Milan, is designed to house regular cultural moments as well as the brand’s offices.
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