Metal magic: Aluminium shines in NØDE's new furniture range

NØDE embodies its moniker: a point of connection. This furniture brand, based in Cape Town, works differently to traditional methods of design. Rather than deciding what a piece should look like and then determining the route to get there, its designers first figure out the way they want various elements to connect, and allow those decisions to lead to the eventual aesthetic.

Industrial designer Charles Haupt and product designer Gerrit Giebel joined forces 18 months ago to launch NØDE, adamant to create a simple range of furniture that did not have to be sold at gallery prices. Unexpectedly, aluminium turned out to be their choice material, as they experimented with its ability to be anodised (an electrochemical process to create an oxide layer that prevents oxidisation and increases surface durability) and dyed into the depth of that layer to create vibrant metallic effects.

"Aluminium offers so many possibilities for furniture," says Giebel, talking to its waterproof, scratch-resistant, lightweight and recyclable properties. "It allows us to implement things that are not commonly done in design," Haupt adds.

The textured application of surfaces on industrial-driven items is what appeals to the duo. "It's an organic, humanistic approach to manufacturing," says Giebel. All pieces are designed and produced by the studio itself, and can be flat-packed for ease of transport.

1. SIDE TABLE

"The side table was our first piece. The modularity of its connection points — rather than any sketches — determined the shape of this piece. Its central plug allows you to have a different colour circle in the middle, or a matte centre with a shiny outer edge, for instance, creating a subtle play on texture and tone."

2. BENCH

"We were really happy with the plug system implemented in the table, so we used it for attaching the legs to the 1.6m-long bench. Besides the ability to flat-pack the elements, this method of connection makes for a very rigid piece of furniture. The hard line on the edges is a rare thing to achieve when bending metal, and brings refinement to the bench. A textured surface makes the seat really comfortable — for sitting and touching."

3. STOOL

"We wanted to create the most basic version of what a stool can be: a top and three legs. The idea was to form a three-dimensional shape from a flat sheet of aluminium, for the seat, reducing the material and machinery used so that the price could remain accessible. A powder-coated version (the mute range) also keeps costs down. Despite the solid legs, it's easy to move around, because aluminium is three times lighter than steel."