Eirik Balavoine, for Hove Møbler, Stordal

EIRIK BALAVOINE (Paris, 1955) for Hove Møbler, Stordal, Norway.
“Mir” meditation stool, 1990.
Laminated beech with dark-stained wenge veneer.
Limited-edition model.
Awarded the Merke for God Design by the Norwegian Design Council in 1991.
In good condition, with slight signs of use.
Measurements: 24.5 x 43.5 x 15 cm.

Designed in 1990, the “Mir” meditation stool is one of Eirik Balavoine’s most distinctive creations, in which function, structural experimentation, and sculptural character are closely integrated. In 1991, it was awarded the Merke for God Design by the Norwegian Design Council, and in 2000, the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam acquired a piece for its furniture collection.

The piece is constructed from strongly curved laminated wood elements that interlock to form both the support structure and the seat. The contrast between the dark surface of the wenge wood and the light-colored edges of the wood accentuates the continuity of the curves and reveals the design’s structural logic. Its collapsible structure reinforces the economy of means in a design where ergonomics and form are achieved with a minimal number of elements.

“Mir” also gained international recognition when it was featured in Domus, No. 810, in December 1998, as part of a feature on Norwegian design. The publication highlighted the organic nature of these forms, whose tension and lightness evoke structures found in nature.

Born in Paris in 1955 and having moved with his family to Norway during his childhood, Eirik Balavoine has forged a unique career as a designer, psychotherapist, and meditation teacher. Involved in the practice of meditation since the early 1980s and organizing silent retreats since 1984, he applied this experience to the design of seating specifically conceived for meditation, including “Mir” and “Yme,” both from 1990. Both models are included in the furniture collection of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.