Aurélie Richard and La Saônoise Design the STRATE Bench
Amy Duong — July 8, 2025 — Art & Design
References: instagram
French designer Aurélie Richard works in collaboration with French beech veneer expert La Saônoise to create the sculptural STRATE bench. It is defined by its curved form which takes layers of beech plywood into an artful shape of form and function. It has been developed through processes of co-design workshops between the two efforts.
The design brief was to create a demonstration piece that would capture Saônoise’s expertise. The studio landed on the idea of a bench, which is an everyday function and a familiar piece. The bench would be reimagined as “Saônoise component-object." STRATE is refined yet playful, showing off its construction with bold curved and exposed layers to highlight its simple intricacy of a repeating rhythmic interplay of forms.
Image Credit: Aurélie Richard, La Saônoise
The design brief was to create a demonstration piece that would capture Saônoise’s expertise. The studio landed on the idea of a bench, which is an everyday function and a familiar piece. The bench would be reimagined as “Saônoise component-object." STRATE is refined yet playful, showing off its construction with bold curved and exposed layers to highlight its simple intricacy of a repeating rhythmic interplay of forms.
Image Credit: Aurélie Richard, La Saônoise
Trend Themes
1. Sculptural Furniture Design - Furniture is evolving into art pieces with innovative collaborations between artists and material experts, leading to creations like the STRATE bench that blend functionality with aesthetic appeal.
2. Collaborative Co-design Processes - Co-design workshops are fostering innovation by enabling designers and craftsmen to co-create items that exhibit shared expertise, as seen in the development of the STRATE bench.
3. Exposed Layer Aesthetics - Furniture designs featuring exposed layers are gaining popularity, adding a dynamic aesthetic dimension that emphasizes construction and material texture.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - The furniture manufacturing sector is ripe for disruption with emerging trends in crafting multifunctional and sculptural pieces that emphasize both form and function.
2. Sustainable Materials - Innovations are emerging within sustainable materials industries, as seen with the use of beech plywood in creating designs that are both environmentally conscious and visually compelling.
3. Artisanal Craftsmanship - Artisanal craftsmanship is experiencing a renaissance, with opportunities for collaboration between designers and skilled artisans to create striking yet practical everyday objects.
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