Furniture designer Ben Willett has shown wooden furniture designed for his own house, which was lost in the catastrophic January wildfires, at a group show in LA.
Willett originally designed the pieces for his home in Altadena, which was completely destroyed by the wildfires that tore through the community destroying thousands of structures.
He showed iterations of the pieces at the house-turned-showroom of Future Perfect in Hollywood alongside pieces by design outfit LGS Studios and artist Dan John Anderson for a show called For LA with Love.
Willett showed The Radi Table and Chair, a sculptural dining room set featuring a table with an hourglass base and chairs that, when pushed in, blend in with the table.
“Most of my works were lost in the fires so I only had these few pieces that were living in my showroom to choose from,” Willett told Dezeen.
“So, in a way, the fires sort of forced my hand with what I chose to present. Luckily the ones that survived are all staples that I deeply love; core to my collection.”
The designer, who recently outfitted the talks space at the Design Miami design fair, also showed a wooden chair with a deep seat and slats on its side and a similarly conceived stool.
These pieces were all designed specifically for his home but have been reproduced for commercial purposes.
Willett said that the Future Perfect show presented an opportunity for the design community to come together after the losses.
“It’s funny how it sometimes takes a tragedy to feel connected to your city community,” he said. “I feel more connected to the creative community in LA than ever before.”
Also featured in the showcase was a fully designed room by interior designer Nicole Hollis.
The dark dining room featured a moody stone table alongside works by design studios such as Chris Wolston, Blue Green Works, Nilufar and Balmaceda.
The LGS Studios collection features a variety of ceramics.
Called Mesozoic, the pieces feature deeply textured surfaces informed by paleobotany as well as fringe created with natural materials,
The Future Perfect has residences in Los Angeles and New York where it curates periodic collectible design showcases.
In 2023, it showcased work by late Italian designer Gaetano Pesce in Los Angeles and presented a solo show by American designer Chris Wolston in New York.
The photography is by Elizabeth Carababas.
For LA with Love was on show from 18 February to 21 March. For more exhibitions, fairs and talks in architecture and design visit Dezeen Events Guide.
The post Ben Willett exhibits furniture originally designed for family home lost to wildfires appeared first on Dezeen.
