ALAIN GILLES DESIGNS PADIGLIONI AND SCULPTURAL FOR BONALDO

Images courtesy of ALAIN GILLES The Studio

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Alain Gilles THE STUDIO designed for Bonaldo, the PADIGLIONI Dining Table, as well as the SCULPTURAL TV Stand / Low Console, were officially launched at the Salone in Milan.

PADIGLIONI Dining Table  – Like a Micro Architecture
Alain Gilles for BONALDO
The Padiglioni table is conceived as a small piece of architecture, as if it were a miniature model of an architectural pavilion. A conceptual or dream-like structure made up of curved walls and round columns that interact with each other. Although very different, it follows a general logic not far from that developed by the late Mies van der Rohe for his iconic Barcelona Pavilion.

If it were a full-fledged piece of architecture, the ground it rests on would be its floor, the round and curved legs would be its supporting structure and walls, and the tabletop would be its roof. The various columns that support the tabletop all have a distinctive shape and are placed in non-symmetrical positions to create a certain dynamic within the piece. The table also looks different depending on the angle from which it is viewed, as the legs interact graphically in different ways. This gives the table a richer personality.

The Padiglioni table is also very sculptural. The way its visual masses are distributed is quite unusual, giving the table a unique dynamic and personality. Heavy on one side thanks to its very large foot, lighter on the other. As you walk around the table, the masses of the different legs often visually merge, creating unexpected sculptural forms that appear full, yet are accentuated by the light passing between the legs.

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The whole table plays with softness and generosity, with large round or curved legs and a gently rounded top that is softly caressed by the light. But it also has a stronger and more masculine side with its straight lines and the tapered edge on the tabletop. This duality creates a discussion and a balance that is very common in my work.

SCULPTURAL TV Stand / Low Console
Alain Gilles for BONALDO
The Sculptural low console and TV Stand is a functional and sculptural piece at the same time. In contrast to most TV stands, it is a statement piece. It has a special arched “belly” under its top that allows cables and power strips to be hidden so that, in most cases, only one cable needs to come out along one of its legs to connect to an electrical outlet in the wall.

The main idea is to offer the possibility to unclutter the top of the piece as much as possible, without creating drawers or bulky storage spaces, so that it remains as sculptural and enigmatic as possible, while offering this function of hiding and connecting cables when used as a TV stand.

It can also be used as a low console to provide additional surface area in a room where books or objects can be arranged and displayed, or used under a wall-mounted TV to provide a linear piece of furniture in the living room in front of a sofa.

The piece is meant to feel as if it was carved from a single massive piece of solid wood or stone. It is a monobloc element that has hidden functionalities and is meant to feel more like a sculpture than a real piece of furniture. The repetition of its legs makes it feel as if a large chunk of a tree was resting on a few supports. It is a piece that has a real mass and presence but, thanks to all its multiple curves, it plays endlessly with light and thus feels refined and detailed. It is a very technical piece made by skilled artisans in the Veneto region in Italy.