German architects Berndt Hallin and Alexander Radoske proved in practice that furniture is a reduced architecture. The texture of luxurious materials and laconic architectonics are the main components of their collection.

Passing the gallery

Text: Lyudmila Kryshtaleva

Magazine: H (54) 2001

Architects have always considered furniture as their theme. In their opinion, this is the same architecture, but on a smaller scale. Although, perhaps, this phenomenon has a more vital explanation: at a certain moment, the masters of space just want chamberness and comfort. Those about whom we want to talk, know how to live in different dimensions. The heroes of this article are the young German architects Bernd Hallin and Alexander Radoske, they are 36 and 34 years old respectively. By the way, Radoske was our compatriot in the past and began his professional career at the Leningrad Academy of Arts, together with the famous Petersburg architect Mikhail Barashkov. In 1990, Bernd and Alexander settled in Frankfurt am Main. Since then, the creative duo implemented a lot of projects: they built new housing, were engaged in arranging old lofts, decorated the interiors of shops, offices, studios ... Bernd and Alexander are supporters of a conceptual approach. “Architecture for us is a process of creative rethinking of everyday life. We are trying to turn the production routine into the poetry of a realized idea,” says Radoska. When the architects designed the new terminal at the international airport, they got the idea to create a furniture collection. Working with exquisite wood species: zebrano, yara, Burmese teak, ebony - brought the architects to the idea of ​​a new role - designer. Bernd and Alexander manage to emphasize in their products the dignity of noble materials, their intrinsic value. So, the Times square tabletop is made up of squares of Burmese tic with a characteristic circular pattern that creates a coloristic canvas that will never be boring. The table has balanced proportions, it is impressive and peaceful. Of course, there is high professionalism in everything, "architectural training" and sophisticated taste: ideal ratios of volumes and planes, nuances of combinations of narrow and wide, the game of lines. The texture of luxurious materials and modern laconic architectonics are the main components of the FFM collection. However, the concept of FFM includes another very relevant modern idea - “behavioral”. (By the way, this is an unusually popular and fashionable trend today not only for items for the home, but also in clothes. A certain lifestyle and behavioral model is an indispensable frame for modern advertising interpretation.) The dining table Trust Bernd Hollin and Alexander Radoske is a long and unexpectedly narrow. He seems to be materializing the romantic motive "disunity - convergence". For example, a floor lamp can be placed between two such parallel tables. Everyone invited to the party will feel his place at the table as belonging only to him, and the person in the parallel space - as a call for communication. When there is a warming, how nice it will be to move the tables! And vice versa - a third table (neutral territory) can be erected for official talks If you place Banker's low bench of equal width on the Trust table, you’ll end up with a rack. And this is another professional concept in the FFM collection. The view of the smiling authors themselves leaves no questions why two successful young architects, among customers who have very reputable companies (for example, LUFTHANSA AIRLINES), suddenly became interested in furniture.