MAIII Collective is a team of designers from Budapest, Hungary. They set out to mesmerize the world of design with their maiden collection at the Stockholm Furniture Fair comprising imaginative furniture that tells stories – of “childhood memories, family traditions, or a contemporary reflection” – more than just appealing visually. The collection titled ‘Fragments’ has nine different objects created by designers Zsófi Zala, Balázs Kisgyörgy, Blanka Timári, Roberta Wende, and other talents.
The Fragments has storytelling at the core of design and it brings past, present, and future together in a way that will get the elderly, young, and kids all fascinated. This furniture collection, which serves a greater purpose, comprises some interesting creations like the ESTEBÉD serving tray and ÚTRAVALÓ dessert carrier inspired by the age-old Hungarian tradition of serving food and eating together as a family. Both of these have a unique design that tells an old tale with a modern touch and are suitable for dining tables, picnics, or camping.
Next up is an orthodox chair called REJLIK, designed by Eszter Hanko, carrying memoirs of a family heritage of the communist era. Back in the day, the designer informs, that people hid family belongings in secret places so they could be later found by their future generations. The minimalist REJLIK chair is reminiscent of that era and features a hidden drawer where users can conceal their cherished items or even hide candies from kids. It is not made so much for comfort but for the story that remains hidden within its compartments. A perfect heirloom furniture to have!
Designer Blanka Timári worked on SUSZTER, a reimagined cobbler’s chair, with a low-seating. He was inspired to create it from the childhood memory of his grandfather using a similar kind of object in his workshop. The leather used for the seat is recovered from the family’s shoemaking business leftovers and each piece is used “without cutting or altering… preserving the stories behind them,” Timári informs.
RELIKVIA by Roberta Wende is a sculptural showcase designed with the idea of preserving traditions, while “allowing you to display what matters most.” Owing to its sleekness and easy-to-assemble and disassemble construction, this shelving unit can fit seamlessly into any size of space you have.
A satisfying object in the Fragments collection is the ODO birdhouse. It draws inspiration from a wartime gas mask container birdhouse created by designer Balázs Kisgyörgy’s great-grandfather. The handyman skills of the old guy have found a new spark in the great-grandson who has created the round-shaped birdhouse using wooden strips and felt. An exciting and artistic piece for bird enthusiasts who would prefer a sculptural birdhouse over smart birdhouses and feeders popular these days.
The most fascinating still is the ÚSZKA, a functional wooden swimming ring that was prevalent among swimmers before inflatable swimming rings took over. This new float by Rebeka Csiby-Gindele is a blend of the past with a modern design that is sleek and ergonomic and speaks volumes of its craftsmanship.
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We think every object in the Fragments furniture collection is unique and inspiring. The storytelling brims out from every design crafted with utmost caution to blend history with contemporary design. If you are interested in any of these furniture pieces you can reach out to the MAIII Collective.
