Meet our designer: Jair Straschnow
The established designer currently lives in Amsterdam. Occasionally he gives workshops or lectures, but he is mostly busy working in his studio. Jaïr has a great passion for creating smart, ingenious products. When a product can solve an everyday problem and it can also be reduced to the minimal, Jaïr is delighted. ‘I believe in the power of minimalism. A minimalist product is more pleasant and peaceful for both people and the environment.'
This is well reflected in the design of the Bended Series that Jaïr designed for Weltevree. This aluminum garden furniture set consists of a table with several matching benches and chairs made by bending aluminum sheets at a 45-degree angle. This creates a flexible yet sturdy structure that adapts to the surface on which it stands. In short, the Bended Series will never wobble.
Half table, double the possibilities
When it comes to minimalism and functionalism, as far as Straschnow is concerned, the classic picnic table is the perfect combination of the two, and thus an endless source of inspiration. 'I have an obsession with picnic tables. The classic design is the perfect example of reducing a product to the bare minimum. It's a design that makes me go: why didn't I come up with that myself?’ Despite the classic picnic table being so iconic to Straschnow, it is still often perceived as immobile and limited in use. Emerging from his obsession and unrest with the design of the picnic table, he designed the Tablebench and the Folding Picnic. Both products are the cumulative result of his earlier implementations of this idea and show how to do more with less: both tables not only save half the space, but double the possibilities. 'Space is a commodity, and it is scarce and expensive: you pay per m2. That led me to designs that combine space saving with function. If a product can successfully perform multiple functions, it has more reason to exist.'
With the open table top on one side, you can play with different setups - place the tables against the wall, combine them with chairs or join two tables together: the Tablebench and Folding Picnic are multifunctional pieces of furniture applicable in endless settings. In addition, both tables have a curved tabletop on one side, which also serves as a backrest. So you can dine, work and relax at the same table.
The deluxe folding table
The Folding Picnic also has an additional function. As the name suggests, the table is foldable, making it mobile and easy to move. Whether in the front yard, in the backyard, inside, at the campsite, in the sun or in the shade, the Folding Picnic is a table to move around. Thanks to the clever folding mechanism, you easily fold the table and carry it to your favorite spot with the handle at the bottom of the table top.
With these two striking designs, Straschnow has actually managed to translate the iconic picnic table into not one, but even two original products, each more versatile and functional than the original in its own way. The Tablebench and Folding Picnic challenge you to reconnect with your immediate surroundings and find new ways to use your outdoor environment. Keep exploring.