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Mobles114 co-produces the documentary “André Ricard, el diseño invisible“, directed by filmmaker Poldo Pomés, with script by journalist Xavier Mas de Xaxàs. This 56-minute documentary depicts and goes over the life and work of one of the first Catalan product designers. A pioneer who has developed products from a humble standpoint to make our lives easier and more pleasant.

 

André Ricard (Barcelona, 1929) is considered, together with Miguel Milà, one of the founding fathers of Catalan design. From an early age he felt the need to analyze the form and function of objects around him. That early inclination led him to study at the Academy of Warnia Zaraszescka, a Polish artist from whom he acquired the teachings of Bauhaus, to visit the United Kingdom when the Festival of Britain was taking place, and to admire the work of Raymond Loewy.

 

Having design as his banner, Ricard worked to draw attention to and extol an occupation that was totally unknown in the Spain of the 50s. He also did so by drawing connections between national designers with their European and North American counterparts, as well as actively participating in the ADI-FAD (Association of Industrial Design) until it became the organization we know today.

Aesthetic beauty as a consequence of functionality

 

Since the beginning of his collaboration with the fragrance company Puig, where he used to design their perfume’s packaging, André Ricard has conceived some of the most recurrent designs of Spanish daily life, from the Norit detergent bottles to the Orion tongs, as well as the iconic Copenhaguen 1966 ashtrays or the Tong 1964, both reissued by Mobles114 and belonging to the “Classic Collection“.

 

By means of “André Ricard, el diseño invisible” and through his own words and those of people close to him such as clients, friends, former students or collaborators, we discover his way of working and conceiving design. Throughout this documentary, Ricard himself designs a container for serving and eating olives in which the pits remain hidden. “In every design problem you have to immediately put yourself in the user’s shoes,” Ricard recalls, making it clear that his vocation has been, is and always will be to make our lives easier and more beautiful.

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In the Victoire area, in the heart of the world’s wine capital, you will find BodeGon, a modern bistro with a large terrace which is the stage of numerous urban scenes in a city where an eminently classic style converges, but where there is also a great sense of modernity and freshness. 

Mobles114 has collaborated with Benayoun Architectes providing the outdoor furniture from the Tube series for this bar. Under the premise of contributing to the creation of a pleasant and relaxed space, especially designed to encourage social gatherings and create an informal atmosphere. 

Located in the heart of Place de la Victoire, opposite the triumphal Porte d’Aquitaine, BodeGon stands out for its dynamic and lively appearance in an eminently urban area that is busy with pedestrians and packed with cyclists and students passing by.

What is surprising about the project is the incorporation of an eye-catching element that contrasts with the classical architecture and confronts it, which reminds us of the typically Parisian Haussmannian style.

The pieces belonging to the Tube series, designed by Eugeni Quitllet, are perfectly suited to the terrace of this emblematic bar thanks to their adaptability to different outdoor and even indoor environments. Moreover, they are a perfect solution for the hospitality industry. Thanks to the combination of aluminum and polypropylene that makes up the seat, the Tube series is light, resistant, stackable and easy to maintain.

The most characteristic feature of its design and where all the attention is focused is the continuous aluminum tube, which gives it great dynamism and visual appeal without detracting from its light appearance. The Tube table, which is mounted on three legs that enable a simple installation, keeps the series’ essential straight lines and brings a sense of continuity to the project.

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Photos: Meritxell Arjalaguer

Product Distributor: Agora Mobilier