Joaquim Belsa

JOAQUIM BELSA ALDEA (Catalonia, 1929-2018).
Set of six chairs "mod 186".
Oak and bulrush.
Measurements: 77 cm (height, x6); 45 x 43 x 43 x 43 cm (seat, x6).
The chair model 186, conceived in 1961, has a pine wood structure, with beveled back and seat made of braided bulrush. This piece is a contemporary reinterpretation of the traditional popular chair made of wood and vegetable fibers, precisely articulating the aesthetic and functional principles of its author, centered on formal simplicity and a modern conception of design.
Throughout his career, the Catalan industrial designer Joaquim Belsa Aldea was interested in the design and production of simple and austere furniture conceived for a wide public. In his designs he used traditional and durable materials, such as natural wood, manila cane, bulrush and textiles. In 1961 he founded Aresta, the company he created with his brother Jaume and Joan Mañá, which was active until 1985. The way of working that characterized Belsa during this period was based on the idea of a single line and a functionalist will. Some of his designs were awarded the ADI/FAD Delta Awards in 1961, 1963 and 1970.