Inspired by the profound influence a single material can have on aesthetic perception, performance, and space, Los Angeles-based design studio Kalon is taking their Rugosa collection outside by transforming it with metal. The original series, intended for indoor use, is characterized by its broad planks of solid Western Sugar Pine, accented by bronzed glass and Belgian linen upholstery. In its new adaptation – now called the Material Studies Series – the minimal silhouettes are kept, but reimagined in powder-coated aluminum with bronzed glass and GreenGuard-certified textiles supporting the move outdoors. Kalon cofounder, Johannes Pauwen, shares further: “In materially reimagining current collections from the studio, we intend to produce work that pushes this relationship in adaptable and empowering ways.”
Like most indoor furniture, Rugosa was designed to instill a sense of coziness and relaxation. “We wanted the materials to be innately familiar and to evoke comfort and ease,” reiterates Michaele Simmering, Kalon’s other half. “Every choice was intentional and leaned towards an effortless and casual design. Translating the collection for outdoor use, everything changes.” While this isn’t Kalon’s first foray into metal (it celebrated that milestone with the Element bed), the pieces in the Material Studies Series are influenced by the outside environment in ways that weren’t experienced by their indoor counterparts. “There are rich colors and reflective surfaces. Shadow play brings new dimensions to the colors,” Simmering explains. Simultaneously, the outdoor furniture juxtaposes sharply against the natural landscape with its linear and architectural forms.
The Material Studies Series includes an armchair, side table, coffee table, and a new dining table, which was absent from the original collection. Available in rich oxblood red, lapis, and lime white, the furniture will weather the test of time and bring a level of modern sophistication to your outdoor spaces.
To shop the Material Studies Series, visit kalonstudios.com.
Photography by Piergiorgio Sorgetti.