Seville Collection | Alexander Mueller

The SEVILLE collection consists of a range of tables, featuring sculptural, hand-made, solid ash wood, layered into geometric patterns, creating self-supporting structures for toughened glass table tops. The table bases play on texture, movement and light. This collection is the product of months in which Mueller experimented with wooden blocks, studying layering techniques and arrangements.

“I have always been interested in layers and repetition to create movement within a structure. During the first lockdown last year, I was working in Seville and used the home confinement to spend weeks playing around with wooden blocks, building structures that kept collapsing. The more interesting the shape, the easier it buckled, so I decided to utilise smaller, intersecting three-piece components to create the base structure,” Mueller states.

Each three-piece component consists of two natural and one blackened solid ash wood piece, layered to create geometric surface areas, which form the table base. Depending on the view point, the designs change shape and structure, offering an interplay of light and movement from different angles. In line with the non- linearity of the designs, the table tops come in custom shapes complementing the base structure.

The collection is currently offered on a made to order basis.

Mueller’s work focuses on re-examining traditional craftsmanship, in order to highlight the beauty of materials and draw attention to the making process. His work often features intricate, or challenging-to- make, products. “With this collection, given the time that we spent at home this year and no rush to be anywhere, I wanted to take time to fully explore the design, play around with materials and create without industry constraints. I didn ́t want to hurry the design ... I just wanted to get fully immersed into making again.”

Due to the nature of the design and it ́s modular components, Mueller is currently exploring options to utilise local production off-cuts and left-over harvesting materials to create the triangulated parts. “I recently set-up a creative space in Jaén in the South of Spain, one of the largest olive producing regions, so I am keen to find ways to utilise left-over materials of the olive industry, as I noticed that during harvest season, tons of good olive wood is being left to rot or is burned.”

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Alexander Mueller is an award-winning Austrian-born furniture designer and maker, based in London and Úbeda, Jaen.

He is a hands-on designer who approaches his creation process through making and experimenting with materials. He delivers exceptional pieces of furniture, defined by clean lines. His focus lays on re-examining traditional craft techniques, in order to highlight the beauty of materials and drawing attention to the making process.

As well as designing and making furniture, Alexander and his partner are currently opening a creative centre in Úbeda, Jaen. They found a wonderful Cortijo in Andalusia and are updating it to offer artist residencies, artistic call outs and events focusing on literature, drama, unique design, education, performance, food, as well as writing, crafting and creating interesting links between different forms, inspire by the Fantasism manifesto. For more information, please visit Isla De Crear - https://isladecrear.eu/index.html