GalleryDe Castelli Beijing Gallery is located in Caochangdi International Art Center, in the traditional Beijing courtyard “Siheyuan” formed by grey walls, trees and path. In its simple beauty, the L-shaped two-story building houses various metal art works. The projects expresses Oriental spirit and Western beauty, rational compatibility and warm atmosphere, which fully echoes the 3 core values of De Castelli brand: exquisite craftsmanship, superb technology and continuous innovative development.
The theme of the exhibition hall is the meticulous and pure atmosphere of the art museum. The overall space is set by grey tone. In the open arrangement, the rhythm of the relationship between indoor and outdoor is adjusted by the windows of different sizes and heights.
The second floor of the building is structurally more modern and functional, containing the material display area and the conference area respectively. Large glass window frames create natural paintings, and the changes of the day and seasons become full of details.
Drops is a family of coffee tables inspired by the unexpected, irregular shapes of water droplets on a surface. Their soft, familiar lines embody the skilled craftsmanship and artisan know-how of De Castelli, which has revived the traditional technique of manually hammering and shaping copper: a nod to a tradition that, given a contemporary interpretation, is manifested in products that harmoniously integrate with everyday settings. The DeNuance finishing, inspired by water and its movements, enhances the tops of the coffee tables and gives the collection an organic and natural look thanks to the combined action of fire, oxidation and pigments.
Pensando ad Acapulco (Thinking of Acapulco) is a tribute to the iconic Acapulco Chair of the Fifties. It gives shape to a new understanding of what a chair is, starting from sheet metal shaped entirely by hand, fold after fold. Three iron legs support the seat, formed by three sections in stainless steel, in shiny copper or brass finishing, enlivened by the refraction of light on each facet sculpted on its surface. The product of De Castelli craftsmanship, expertise and virtuosity, this chair challenges durable metal to become welcoming, even transforming iron into the most flexible of materials.
As in a composition with Art Nouveau expressiveness, natural inspiration leaves room for abstraction to propose a three-dimensional geometric pattern created in the shape of vine leaves. Vertical Green is able to evoke a characteristic autumn landscape: the covering brings to mind a scenographic “vertical garden” warmed by the choice of materials and their manifold oxidations and finishes.
Circle Wall is a covering system composed of overlapping round modules, creating a sumptuous pattern for decorating walls. Available in a range of finishes, Circle Wall creates a rich color palette in differing hues ranging from gold to bronze, and from burnt brown to dark brown, showcasing the expressive potential of De Castelli surfaces in an original way.
With its essential shapes and gentle, sinuous sense of movement, Wave suggests a renewed, more conscious focus on the ritual of arriving home, reinterpreting a quintessential piece Asian furniture: the shoe bench. The micro architecture, designed with simple, flowing forms, is produced using solid metal which plays with curves, solids and voids. The vertical wave-shaped wall in perforated metal sheet lends lightness to the volume and adds a touch of refinement to the sculptural form, accompanying those who enter; the wave form serves to underline the presence of the “pocket emptier” plate, inviting us to empty our pockets as we come home. The upper surface provides ample space to sit down while removing clothing, while the base provides storage space for bags and shoes.
Like the hard metal sheets that identify the armour of a samurai, the scales on the skin of this piece define its appearance. Yoroi has a dynamic shape, taking on the evocative strength of Art Deco furnishings, plays with the essentialism of an ellipse and modular repetition, balanced between minimalism and marvel. With a natural oak frame covered in De Castelli metals, this secretaire opens unexpectedly: it conceals a roomy drawer, two more, while the sides contain curved doors.
Pandora is a drawer unit that alludes to the archetypal shape of a vase. Like a modern treasure chest, it was crafted to store – and thus ‘hide’ – all kinds of objects: mysterious and impressive, Pandora surprises when the drawers, invisible when closed, are revealed. In its different versions, from three to six drawers, this piece is versatile enough to be transformed, as you like, into a decorative storage or full chest of drawers, used in varied spaces, from the bathroom to the bedroom or living room.
Elizabeth console articulates in two side doors that give space to large lacquered wood shelves, which stand out compared to the upper top and legs realized in polished metal. A simple and minimal piece of furniture, the console fits well into any environment, conferring elegance and refinement. Available in steel, brass and copper, Elizabeth gives shape to a new way of imagining unambiguously feminine metal furniture.
Like a ballerina on her toes, Elizabeth gracefully unfurls her luminous dress, as if made of pleated fabric. The characteristic folds add movement to the metal sheet along the surface of the cabinet, transforming each reflection into light. In an interplay of airiness and tension, elasticity and rigour, the metal vibrates with the rhythm of its pleats.