Born in 1980, the Belgian designer decided in 2018 to set up his studio in Antwerp, while continuing to collaborate with international brands. Antwerp is a city that is a melting pot of creativity in terms of art, design and fashion. Having grown up in a German-speaking border region, he is fluent in several languages. Bertrand Lejoly nurtures close ties with Italy, mainly through his collaboration with the illustrious Italian architect and designer Matteo Thun, developing along the way a firm grasp of the contrasts between the rigour of the North and the passion of the South. This seven-year experience has been decisive in his career, allowing him to embrace Italian aesthetics and develop an approach to design that combines an elegant form of simplicity and expressiveness.
A subtle play of reflections and light.
‘Belle Haleine’ is a luminaire composed of different superimposed volumes. The project began as an exploration of solids, proportions and the dialogue between glass and metal. A search for balance between architecture and sculpture, between matter and emptiness. Gradually, the object took on the form of a table lamp, although it also comes in a wall-mounted or floor-standing version. The quest for equilibrium is at the heart of the creative process. Lejoly strives to produce an expression whose strength lies essentially in the purity of its composition. This minimalism is a hallmark of his style. The overall effect is an object that literally guides the light upwards and supports this vertical intention.
‘Simphony’ is a modular lighting system that adapts gracefully to a wide range of different environments. The suspension system plays an essential role in the design. Lejoly has worked with materials such as mouth-blown glass and ceramics, combined with aluminium featuring a subtle horizontal texture that gives the metal a warm, almost hand-crafted appearance. Each material alters the perception of the object, as well as the quality of the light.
A haven of comfort
For Paola Lenti, Lejoly has created the ‘Arnô’, a low, generously proportioned interior sofa designed to offer absolute comfort. The idea of a seat with plush cushions became a goal that inspired the use of a knitted fabric that is pulled over the structure, covering it like a sock. Paola Lenti developed an innovative fabric specifically for this project. The use of this sophisticated material is one of the elements that make the ‘Arnô’ such an original piece of furniture. The quest to create an attractive and pleasant outdoor collection that envelops us in its embrace gave rise to ‘Pli’: a series of voluptuous armchairs and benches boasting comfort and support. With its one single upholstered element that acts as seat, back and armrests, ‘Pli’ embodies both elegance and well-being, while durability and flexibility are guaranteed by the brightly varnished stainless steel and elastic straps. ‘Pli’ is stackable and comes with a removable cover, making it an invaluable object to have around when entertaining unexpected guests.
