Paul Coenen created his Tension collection by folding metal sheets in such a way as to benefit from their flexibility and to create stiffness within the material.
The following feature can also be utilized to our advantage. By combining this with high precision manufacturing, a form language has evolved: the flexibility of metal is used to lock pieces together due to its tendency to bend back to its original shape upon bending. Assembling the pieces does not require welding, screws, or glue. During his research, he examined the possibilities of this technique in over 200 scale models. As a result of this process, an ever-expanding collection of cabinets, side tables, fruit bowls, benches, and more was produced.
The Camber bench and stool originated from the idea of manufacturing a piece of furniture from a single piece of sheet metal. The inclining angle of the seat formed the basis for the rest of the design, with each cut and fold having the same 5-degree angle. Starting with a flat rectangle, two angular cuts are made. The first three folds are then made lengthwise by machine, after which the legs are finally bent into the right angle by hand.
The SST Mirror is entirely crafted of polished stainless steel. The reflective surface is in contrast with the raw edges, which gently curve their way around the mirror. The sides are folded backwards to offset the mirror from the wall. Near the edges, the reflection deforms, which accentuates the folds and creates a slightly morphed image. The mirror also comes in a tempered variant. By applying heat to stainless steel, its surface gradually changes color. This process reveals the irregularities of the mass-produced material, giving a unique appearance to each surface.
Paul Coenen employs an intuitive and hands-on approach, where he explores his fascination for materials and both modern and traditional manufacturing techniques. His work is straightforward; the appearance of the objects is a consequence of material and technique.
