Studio Swine is known for employing unconventional mediums, such as long flowing tresses in their ‘hair highway’ project, to create distinctive, functional design pieces. In continuing their exploration of alternative mediums, they have developed a set of cabinets which are made from foamed aluminum — ultimately a composition of gas-injected pores — a lightweight material that has the appearance of pumice; and which is typically used in the automotive industry behind walls and car bonnets to enhance structural properties.
A project commissioned by pearl lam galleries, ‘metallic geology’ is a collection of small, sculptural storage units that draw their rocky forms from the customs of Chinese landscape painting which often displays expressive depictions of China’s mountainous terrain — bringing the rugged environment indoors, drawing striking contrasts with the power of nature, and the still sanctuary of interiors. Here, studio swine have taken what is typically considered an industrial product and highlighted its intricate beauty.
The boulders reference traditional tea cabinets, with highly polished stainless steel shelving integrated into their cavernous depths, synthesizing ancient Chinese practices with the south-east Asian country’s contemporary industrial production.
A look inside the cavernous depths of the ‘metallic geology’ cabinets
Polished stainless steel shelves are integrated within the carved out cabinet shells
See also: Unique Designs: The Magistral Cabinet by Sebastian Errazuriz
Detail of the shelves’ contrasting smoothness with the external textured cabinet structure
The foamed aluminum is a composition of gass-filled pores
The lightweight material has the appearance of pumice
Full view of a ‘metallic geology’ cabinet
The rocky formations draw their influences from china’s mountainous landscape
See also: The New Furniture Collection By Yabu Pushelburg
