THE ART OF HOME FURNISHINGS
From steampunk lamps made of vintage pipes and fittings, to tables and benches that combine wood with concrete, the handcrafted furnishings at Zweidler Works in Mile End are far from ordinary
Walk into Zweidler Works on Bernard Street in the heart of Mile End and before you even get through the doors, you know you’re not in a typical home furnishings boutique.
The pop-up shop that opened in March and is scheduled to remain open until the end of May walks a stylish line between art gallery and furniture shop and is a dream come true for Raphaël Zweidler, who creates functional, sculptural beauty out of concrete, wood and metal.
“It’s something I wanted to do for a long time because most of the exhibitions I did were collaborative, and I wasn’t able to showcase my entire range,” said Zweidler, an artist, furniture maker and residential renovation expert who has worked on homes and condos in Switzerland, the Eastern Townships and Montreal for the past 23 years.
“The pop-up shop is an opportunity to feature my lamps, furniture and paintings at the same time, in the same place.”
Zweidler, 42, who was born in Switzerland and moved to Quebec with his family when he was five years old, creates one-of-a-kind furniture and lamps out of a mix of concrete, reclaimed parts, and wood — as well as lumber from his father’s land in Dudswell, Que. — using a unique casting technique he created and perfected over the years.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself ?
I started quite young because I grew up on a farm, where I had the freedom to experiment with various tools and materials — and my dad had a sign business, so I was always playing around with different paints, effects and layouts.
I went to CEGEP de Saint-Laurent to study architecture and then I had the opportunity to work in Switzerland on very special, high-end construction and renovation projects. That’s when I started my own renovation business, when I was in my late 20s.
How did you first get involved in furniture making ?
The first piece I made was a concrete bûche urbaine (or urban log), which has kind of become my trademark. At the time, I was testing out different pigments, finishes and structures, to figure out what the right mix of concrete was. I had these really nice pieces of wood and I knew I wanted to balance out the concrete — which is a little colder and rawer — with something warmer, so I started working with a combination of both.
How would you describe your style?
It’s mostly influenced by the materials I use. I’d say that my style is pretty streamlined and my pieces feature a lot of raw materials that haven’t been too transformed. Everything I work on is asymmetrical as well, so it’s very different from the norm but appealing to the eye — in my opinion, at least.
When it comes to painting, my style is abstract and contemporary.
Also, cats like my furniture.
Why do you use the materials that you do?
I believe that concrete is the major revolution of the 20th century; everything is made of it and I find it really inspiring. I gained an indepth understanding of concrete due to all of the work I did with it in construction over the years, and I really like the fact that it can be cast and moulded, which is how I make most of my pieces.
Can you tell me a little about the process and what part of it excites you the most?
Every piece I make starts with either natural or reclaimed wood or metal, which I then work around. The part’s shape, size and colour influence how and where I’ll use it — in either a bench, table, or lamp.
What’s most exciting for me is finding the right part, because it’s the first piece of the puzzle. After that, everything gets more technical, but at the beginning, when the brainstorming starts and I’m still not certain what I want to do with the wood or metal, there is a world of possibilities that’s available.
What would you say your main influences are?
Keith Richards. And being open to the possibilities of the materials themselves.
In the past, Zweidler — who has clients across Quebec as well as in the United States, Germany and France — has shown his works at the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke, Atelier Auckland, Spa Eastman, Divan Orange and in various hotels, restaurants, cultural centres and schools. His pieces were also featured as part of the Foresta Lumina multimedia nighttime experience, in association with the Moment Factory and the town of Coaticook, Que.
Zweidler Works will be open Thursday to Sunday until the end of May at 174A Bernard St. W.
I really like the fact that (concrete) can be cast and moulded, which is how I make most of my pieces.