Inspiration can come from nearly anything, as is the case for South African-born, California-based designer Hanneke Lourens who found it in grooved metal sheeting. The durable Corrugated furniture collection is her first, consisting of five playful pieces influenced by the metal sheets that can be found in the urban landscapes of her homeland.
The collection, constructed of white oak and meant to be used daily, reimagines the building materials, turning them into covetable objects. The curves of each furniture piece mimic those of corrugated metal, pairing their smooth shapes in juxtaposition with sharp geometric lines to create a sense of excitement.
This collection really is a love letter to South Africa, a place where shimmering corrugated metal sheets catch your eye almost everywhere you look. There is an inexplicable quality that makes Africa so special – it’s a place that delicately perches somewhere between beauty and chaos. Growing up in this land of contrast, my aim has always been to capture this sense of duality in my work. It is human nature to take comfort in what feels conventional, so I keep pushing towards uncommon beauty, invigorated by the discomfort it might create.
– Hanneke Lourens
Lourens reinterprets the wavy aesthetic with each of the collection’s five Corrugated pieces: Side Table, Lounge Chair, Bench, Coffee Table, and the Console Table. Her design approach allows each of them to stand on their own or complement one another when situated together.
Using only three elements – a circle, a rectangle, and furrowed legs – the designer brings the Corrugated Side Table to life. Its curved appendages create a bit of tension while remaining strong enough for use as a small stool.
The low-slung Corrugated Lounge Chair is perhaps the most architectural of the collection, with legs and a backrest that are supported by linear planks – all in an effort to pull your eyes lower to the rippled base.
The playful Corrugated Bench is visually light and sculptural, pulling from the same elements as the rest of the collection, but in a fresh way. Instead of one length of seating, Lourens created three square seats. The top surface of the squiggly legs shares an exciting peek at the white oak’s endgrain.
Sitting slightly askew, the weighty Corrugated Coffee Table challenges the collection with the use of two pairs of contrasting legs: wavy and straight. You’ll notice that the underside is intentionally bereft of design elements in favor of plenty of legroom.
The Corrugated Console Table doesn’t take itself too seriously, equal parts unassuming and playful. Ideal for use in a living room, hallway, or even as a slim, elegant desk.
Lourens’ South Africa – both light and dark aspects of the country – remain close to her heart informing her design decisions. In the Corrugated collection, the highlights and shadows tracing the undulation across each piece are a reminder of the beauty and creativity to be found there, as well as the less desirable aspects important to acknowledge. This spirit is part of Lourens’ body of work, as she crafts every piece by hand in her workshop.
A percentage of sales from the Corrugated collection will be donated to Learn to Earn, a skills development and job creation organization located in Khayelitsha, South Africa.
Hanneke Lourens
To learn more about the Corrugated furniture collection, visit
hannekelourens.com.
Photography by Hubbard M. Jones.
