good architects are often good designers, too. either because they develop the interior for a planned building at the same time, or because they want to implement their principles and ideas in furniture design. georges candilis (1913 – 1995) is a very interesting example of this – because he explored these „interfaces“ from the very beginning.
as an architect, he worked with le corbusier in paris from 1946, in 1947, he became project manager for the construction of the unité d’habitation in marseille. in ’51 he opened his own office with shadrach woods, later joined by alexis josic. they became also part of ‚team x‘ (team 10) architects, planning an „Utopia of the Present” (exhibition title, yale school of architecture, 2006). they planned and realised major urban planning projects like the extension of bagnols-sur-cèze (1956-62) and similar projects in marseille, nimes, toulouse, hamburg and berlin.
in 1963 they developed a master plan for the römerberg (frankfurt city hall / not realised). in germany, they planned the main building of the „freie universität berlin“ (1967-73). candilis was a leading part of the mid-60’s tourism development program on france’s mediterranean coast : where jean balladur planned la grande motte, candilis worked on similar tasks in leucate-barcarès more to the south.
for one of these resorts in port leucate – called „les carrats“ – he closely collaborated with finnish interior designer anja helena blomstedt. blomstedt had already worked with charlotte perriand for the „les arcs“ ski resort – and the requirements here were practically the same (just for a swimming vacation instead of skiing). the furniture had to be robust and practical, with a focus on efficient design and production to keep costs down. the series was then produced by french manufacturer „sentou“, well-known for their cane chairs but also working with designers like roger tallon, alexander girard or ray & charles eames. the chairs and tables are composed of very stable plywood panels, connected with metal brackets made of cast aluminum, the design is formally very straightforward, geometric – and „honest“, in the truest sense of the french word „brut“ (raw, naked). „you have to be direct and brute“, candilis wrote about his architectural style – and the term is meant in the sense of directness, honesty and uncompromisingness.
by the way: in 1972 the two designers together developed the „hexacube“, an innovative and experimental „tiny house“: plastic shells used as floor and ceiling elements, which together form a room in the shape of a honeycomb. theses structures could be extended on all six sides to create larger spaces.
set of two chairs, a pedestal and a coffee table, candilis / blomstedt, 1970; produced in a small edition for the vacation village „les carrats“. oak, oak plywood and cast aluminum. good vintage condition with patina, scratches and some skipping of veneers under the table tops.
find out more :
about candilis‘ life:
https://www.clementcividino.com/post/georges-candilis
see also clément cividino’s wonderful project „friche de l’escalette“:
http://friche-escalette.com/en/programme/lutopie-plastique/
the new york times about „team x“ architects:
https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/arts/design/27ten.html
the „team x“ website:
http://www.team10online.org/
candilis‘ project „freie universität berlin“:
https://www.uncubemagazine.com/blog/15799747
