Designer Tucker Robbins is committed to a lifelong mission in understanding the human spirit, the human connection and how they integrate. In order to gain perspective in this pursuit, Robbins travels the world with an anthropologic mission to learn the unique practices of building from a diverse group of indigenous peoples; the full-circle result is an intuitive relationship between designer and craftsman, resources and environment, and a truly bespoke product. For Robbins, furniture tells a story of the “the interconnectedness of community.” It's no wonder his work has struck a cord with some of the major movers and shakers of the eco-conscious design community like Donna Karen, Calvin Klein, Aveda, W Hotels and many, many more.
Robbins makes annual visits to Sri Lanka, Honduras, Cameroon, Timor, Borneo and many other ends-of-the-earth locales in effort to bridge a gap that he feels is widening with the onset of mass-produced, mass-marketed furniture. “We are going so much toward a monoculture that we are forgetting diversity and the opportunities to capture unique attributes.” It is this direction that Robbins believes helps fuel political and cultural unrest around the world. In fact, it was after ten years as a monk that Robbins decided to embark on a different path: He fell in love with “the history, the processes, the thinking, the techniques of the living Maya” on a visit to Guatemala. For Robbins, globalization and modernity is an opportunity to honor the talents and resources of these unique cultures, not marginalize them through the outsourcing of mass-production.
His process is much more integral than other designers: He observes the community—the people, their craft and their land—and designs beautiful pieces of furniture that speak to the particular skill-sets and resources of the particular community. This method of commerce shouldn’t seem like a novel idea—historically, it’s how trade was conducted. But today, it may be the last effort to slow down a prevailing method of modernization that is both harmful to the environment and the human condition.
With a slew of well fostered, working relationships around the world, Tucker Robbins has created a sumptuous collection of hand-hewn, richly resourced wood pieces that explore the nuances of natural material and form. He works from his studio in Long Island City, NY, as well as in his Manhattan showroom.
Our IC editor had the opportunity to sit down with Tucker, and this is what we learned:
IC: If you could hop on a plane tomorrow, where would you go?
TR: Dubai.
IC: You seem to be influenced very much by major art movements in your design. What is your favorite NYC museum?
TR: The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
IC: Do you have a favorite artist?
TR: Constantin Brancusi.
IC: Can you share with us any projects you are working on now.
TR: As designers, we help people connect with stories and cultures. In Abu Dhabi, I am working with the Minister of Culture of the Arab Emirates to develop lines reflective of the Arab culture.
IC: As a leader in green design, who do you admire in your industry?
TR: Albert Hadley. He was very resourceful.
IC: Who do you feel is truly helping to change the design world for the better?
TR: Keith Recker, the publisher of Hand/Eye Magazine and handeyemagazine.com, a publication which explores the nexus between design and development, culture and commerce, art and craft, and environment and ethics.
IC: Can you describe your at-home style?
TR: Experimental Tribal.
IC: What is the most defining piece in your space and why?
TR: I have wallpapered the hallway of my apartment in leather and stick Tuareg carpets from North Africa.
IC: Anything else you would like to add?
TR: I am grateful for the work I do, to be a part of the design community and the process of storytelling through commercial activity. What one brings into their home is for the heart. I believe that peace starts on an individual level.
It was tough to choose just five, but here are the pieces that we were completely inspired by:
*top five (product reference)
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1 |
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{Bubble Dining Table} We love its playful, organic feel. |
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2 |
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{Japanese Dining Table} One slice. Imagine the mother tree! |
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3 |
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{Goblet Table} The goblet shape of the base - such elegant lines. |
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4 |
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{Porcelain Mortar Table/Stool} The perfect ocassional table or stool. |
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5 |
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{Egg Stool/Side Table} Eggs-traordinary! |
