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THE MINIMALIST POETRY OF TOAN NGUYEN AND THE EXQUISITE CRAFTSMANSHIP OF DISTRICT EIGHT : A CONVERSATION BETWEEN HERITAGE AND INTERNATIONALITY
The Stilt collection is an harmonious synthesis of tradition and modernity , functionality and aesthetics . Joss , a tribute to the ancestral forms of Asian architecture .
District Eight is a furniture and design object brand based in Ho Chi Minh City . It is named after the famous Saigon district , a true crossroads of past and present , rich in influences from different cultures and countries , including Chinese , Vietnamese , and European heritage .
District Eight is the most appreciated Vietnamese brand of international design enthusiasts , brought to the forefront thanks to authoritative collaborations that have accompanied the production since its origins .
Since its inception , founder Darren Chew has been able to skillfully blend Vietnamese art and craft traditions with international formal influences , creating collections with essential and minimalist lines , skillfully executed by local masters , while maintaining a strong focus on sought-after and natural materials such as solid timber from sustainable responsible sources , metal , leather , and stone .
Toan Nguyen ’ s two collections for District Eight , Stilt and Joss , although with distinctive formal solutions , reflect the designer ’ s poetic sensitivity and multidisciplinary approach , which embraces the company ’ s productive values in their aesthetic vocabulary .
Toan Nguyen ’ s innovative and surprising design , French , with Vietnamese origins , is embodied in his latest collection for District Eight : the Stilt collection , a harmonious synthesis of tradition and modernity , functionality and aesthetics , with attention paid to the environment and product quality . The collection reflects the designer ’ s multidisciplinary approach and poetic sensitivity , which manages to unite technology and craftsmanship in a virtuous dialogue between man and nature .
Nguyen uses oak wood for a structural solution that pays homage to typical Vietnamese stilt houses , then combines it with steel , giving the collection a unique cultural identity .
“ The metal completes the construction , playing an essential role in stabilizing the structure while lightening the silhouette ,” says Toan Nguyen . “ As much as the wood is generous and round , so the metal is its exact opposite .”
The Stilt collection includes a sofa module , an armchair with a footrest , a chaise lounge , a series of tables , and a bed . The structure of the sofa and armchair features cushions that delicately rest on a curved wooden base covered in handcrafted leather or fabric . The chaise lounge draws on the construction know-how of the seats , reworked with a new modifiable comfort through the movement of the rocking element and welcoming base support .
The Stilt table series is available in different configurations , high and low versions , with tabletops of various sizes - round , square , or rectangular - providing greater versatility and functionality .
The Stilt bed , entirely upholstered in handcrafted fabric or leather , is characterized by a sinuous and thin line that expresses its warm and welcoming nature . The tailoring of the finishes emerges in the structural and decorative steel elements , which give the bed an elegant and refined look on all four sides , making it the absolute centerpiece of the bedroom , even in the middle of the room .
The Stilt Collection : Toan Nguyen ’ s formal minimalism and Vietnamese heritage districteight . com | toan-nguyen . com