FERRATA

FERRATA is an outdoor furniture collection inspired by the design language of Via Ferrata, the iron road that originated in the Italian Alps. Designers Jonas Van Put and Dorien Eeckhout, both passionate mountain sports enthusiasts, translated the functional beauty of these climbing routes into a collection of sculptural outdoor furniture. 

Key to the design are the pleated U-shaped rebar, hot-dip galvanised and visibly integrated into the table top. The steel bars are characterised by their rough texture. They refer to the bars that provide climbers with handholds on steep rock faces. Here, they are transformed into graphic, tactile and playful elements that enrich the use of the table. The organic shape of the table top is reminiscent of the irregular lines of stones and rocks in nature.

The accompanying stools are not meant for lounging, but rather as a physical, functional way of sitting. Table and stools invite users to adapt to their surroundings, like a climber with regard to the terrain and conditions.

The jury on FERRATA:

An accessible statement piece, a family of table and stools using minimal materials. The design language used looks fresh, simple, intelligent and coherent, playful due to the interesting alternations and variations in structure. FERRATA works well as outdoor furniture due to the material use, treatment and weight.

How did the idea for this project come about?

The FERRATA collection was born from a shared passion for mountaineering and a fascination with the raw beauty of nature. The outdoor furniture collection is inspired by the design language of Via Ferrata, the iron road that originated in the Italian Alps. Rods bent into a U-shape are anchored in the rocks, creating a utilitarian intervention that provides climbers with handholds on steep rock faces. We analysed these rebar elements and translated their connections and deformations into a furniture collection. The design process was intuitive and investigative: from scale models to prototypes, invariably engaging in dialogue with each other and the material.

What makes your project so special?

FERRATA, like Via Ferrata routes, is a functional intervention that merges with nature. In a private garden, it takes on an intimate, sculptural role; in public spaces, it promotes dynamism and encounters. With FERRATA, we introduce a field of tension in the environment: between expression & functionality, between playfulness & minimalism, between nature & artefact. Perforations in the top create a play of light and afford the solid form lightness. The amorphous lines refer to rocks and nature, while the rebar symbolises human intervention. The playful design instigates creative use and movement. FERRATA questions the traditional concept of comfort & use and invites active interaction, just as comfort is secondary in the mountains.

Do you have any further plans for this project?

We may want to build further on the collection and explore new applications. We dream of one day returning the furniture to its original context: the mountains. At the same time, we are exploring variants such as a coffee table or a chair, so that the series can grow into a fully fledged ensemble. We want to allow people to discover and dream: by creating objects that are not only functional, but also appeal to the imagination.