Furniture art

Montreal, Canada, 2010-08-17 –
Olivier Desrochers was born in Montreal in 1973. Ever since he was a child, he has been interested in design, particularly of furniture, which combines form and texture. He completed his interior design education in 1999, but it was a trip to Bali that triggered his design career. Inspired by the Balinese landscapes, markets, and people, he designed the Nuovo/Nuova furniture line, which he then sent to Quebec by container. When he returned, he founded his company, OD Design. 

Desrocher’s works are produced essentially for individuals seeking custom design; he creates with a particular emphasis on the analysis of form and the relationships among space, human being, and object. The result is pieces of furniture that are as aesthetically pleasing as they are ergonomic and comfortable.

“For me, aesthetics and comfort are closely connected,” Desrochers explains. “A piece of furniture that has perfect lines but is uncomfortable has no place, except perhaps in a museum. For example, Ronron was a major challenge, since it has a very low back for a rocking chair. I had to change the angle of the back three times before finding the ideal angle, but I would never have disfigured its general shape to make it comfortable. I would simply have designed a different chair.”

While Desrochers is currently working on a table that is at the prototype stage, as well as on a modular sofa and a bookcase, the form of the chair continues to preoccupy him. “The chair is the perfect design icon,” he observes. “I can’t say why I, and many designers, find it so fascinating. Perhaps one day I’ll find out; for the moment, I’m happy to design them.”

The products presented by Olivier Desrochers are:

THE SOUTH BEACH CHAIR:

Who has never relaxed in a famous Adirondack chair? This great North American classic was a success due to its comfort and its shape, a cutting-edge in its time.

South Beach adopts these characteristics while updating the design. You will find a comfortable seat, wide armrests, and the possibility of putting two together to make a love seat.

Recipient of the 1st prize from the Designer jury (favourite) at SIDIM 2010, South Beach has also appeared in Frame, Azure, and MocoLoco.

Designer: Olivier Desrochers
Manufacturer: —
Materials: Pine, cedar, teak
Dimensions: W. 30” x D. 45” x H. 30”
Availability: By order

THE HUSKY CHAIR:

Inspired by the dogsleds of the Canadian North, the Husky chair was created with a deliberate constraint: not to use any straight pieces. The result is a dynamic oversized chair.

Designer: Olivier Desrochers
Manufacturer: —
Materials: Black walnut, oak, cherry wood, teak
Dimensions: W. 29” x D. 29” x H. 29”
Availability: By order

THE RONRON ROCKING CHAIR:

The Ronron rocking chair was named in honour of a grandmother, who purred as she dozed in her rocking chair in the evening.

The Ronron rocking chair has appeared in Nightlife Magazine, Maison, and Décor, and in the Globe and Mail and La Presse.

Designer: Olivier Desrochers
Manufacturer: Atelier LC2
Materials: Black walnut, oak, cherry wood, teak
Dimensions: W. 27” x D. 29” x H. 30”
Availability: Interversion (Montreal), DDC (New York)

THE RONRON SM CHAIR:

The granddaughter of the Ronron rocking chair, the Ronron SM chair was designed for dining in comfort and style.

Designer: Olivier Desrochers
Manufacturer: Atelier LC2
Materials: Black walnut, oak, cherry wood, teak
Dimensions: W. 23” x D. 25.5” x H. 31.5”
Availability: Interversion (Montreal)

THE NUOVO/NUOVA LINE:

Designed during a trip to Bali, the Nuovo/Nuova furniture line is inspired by the magic of the terraced rice paddies on the island of the gods.

The Nuovo/Nuova armchairs/tables play on comfort and aesthetics, purity and perpetuity. They also integrate a sensibility essential to the comfort of our exterior and interior living spaces.

Designer: Olivier Desrochers
Manufacturer: —
Materials: Natural rattan and galvanized steel
Nuovo dimensions: W. 52” x D. 29” x H. 22”
Nuova dimensions: W. 45” x D. 73.5” x H. 21.5”
Availability: By order

Photographer: Anette Belley