Last week we brought you the latest on international contemporary design with Inform Seattle’s Hillary and Stephen and their eye-witness accounts of New York’s ICFF, but we still have one more thing to show you—this time with a local flavor.
Urbancase, located just south of Georgetown, was founded in 2002 by metal worker and sculptor Darin Montgomery. Along with artists Catherine Grisez and Rachel Illingworth, Urbancase creates furniture and lighting from a range of materials including wood, metal, ink and resin.
"To create objects that contribute to a simpler, pared-back lifestyle focusing on basic aesthetic elements and functionality" is their design philosophy. "We make informed decisions about the materials and methods we use in an attempt to minimize the negative impact on the environment," Montgomery says.
In their second year exhibiting at ICFF, they unveiled four new pieces: the Petal Credenza, Thorn Side Table, Vine Wallpaper designed by Rachael Illingworth, and the Vine Lamp. We talked to founder Montgomery about the inspiration behind these team’s experience at the show, as well as the present and future of the company’s designs.
"The idea [for the Petal Credenza and Thorn Side Table] came when my partner and I started thinking about rose petals floating in liquid and about them randomly dispersed on a surface. We started working on the credenza and coffee table both dealing with the idea of a petal and rose theme, everything being soft and delicate. The thorn on the side table is a slightly contradictory image because a thorn is sharp, but the design on the table has very soft edges."
"For a lot of the small firms there was the use of different materials, or using common materials in new ways," Mongtomery says when asked about an overall theme at ICFF. "People also seem to be making better decisions about those materials, along the lines of using sustainable products."
Sustainability is one issue that is important to Urbancase. Montgomery explains that he sees a lot of companies ascribing to that claim, but thinks that many of them are doing it for the wrong reasons. "A lot of people use green or eco-friendly as advertising. We make a conscious effort to stay away from that terminology," he says. We look at it as something we all should have been doing all along, and we want to make an heirloom piece instead of something discarded. We want to build really good furniture that will be around for along time."
So what’s on the horizon for this innovative firm? They plan to exhibit again at ICFF next year, working with several different themes. "We want to expand on the organic theme, but go in a different direction, not necessarily with roses or vines. We are looking at a way of mixing organic ideas with modern, slick design."
You can find Urbancase furniture in the Seattle area at:
Urchin
1922 First Ave., (206) 448-5800
Click! Design that Fits
2210 California Ave. S.W., (206) 328-9252
The company is working on being represented at several more locations around the country, including one more in Seattle. In addition to retail locations, Urbancase has worked on commercial projects in the city such as All City Coffee and Moxie restaurant. Look for their work in the soon-to-open Belltown restaurant, Tillicum Place, located at Fourth and Cedar.