07-05-2015

Dutch Design Daily

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Ineke Hans www.inekehans.com

Fogo-island

By 07-05-2015

Fogo-island is an isolated fishing island in the icecold sea between New Foundland (Canada) and Greenland. It features some artist-in-residence studio’s and an inn, where guests can stay and the inhabitants of the island get together.

Designer Ineke Hans was asked to design furniture for Fogo Island Inn. Part of the request was to work with people from the island: boatbuilders and coopers. Most of them are not professionals but only work with wood during the winter when not fishing, using techniques they learned from their fathers. The women have weekly gatherings, working on quilts, communual knitting, rug-hooking etc.

Ineke: “Traditionally, there are many Windsor-type-of-chairs on the island and a lot of woodspinning is still going on. I wanted to play with that and I also wanted to give the men the opportunity to get some of their own creativity in the process. Special patterns and techniques that the woman use to knit warm and strong mittens and socks were used to make soft seats for the wooden furniture.

After being asked to design furniture for the interior, I was also asked to design outdoor furniture for the terraces and the roof. The last thing we worked on was simple furniture based on the basic plank structures and fences you find everywhere on the island. The benches will randomly pop up in public areas on the island where visitors and hikers can have a short rest.”

www.fogoislandinn.ca