The allure of venturing into the countryside for a few days will never end. When the going gets tough and the world’s challenges seem insurmountable, a journey deep into the wilderness is almost always the right antidote. Camping, however, doesn’t mean one has to completely do away with curated comforts. It doesn’t mean they should completely replicate or exceed the comforts of home with elaborate accessories. The middle ground may be just what the doctor ordered. But for it to work, the right equipment is necessary. These carefully calibrated tools, even furniture, should do the job well, and only when this is achieved will they acquire some stylistic flourishes or incorporate technological advances.
Famous for recalibrating everyday furniture, lighting and appliances, the British designer Jasper Morrison has just launched a collection of outdoor products with a Danish brand HAY which facilitates the median. The simple application of colorful stripe patterns on built-in wallpaper and the shimmering iridescence of the exposed bare metal used completes the second work, not as an additional layer of unnecessary aesthetic intervention, but as a by-product of the new, if slightly, irregular forms. it responds to an intensive, if slight, reassessment of function that favors today’s needs.
Funnily enough, the aesthetic effect of this process came across as nostalgic. Bypassing the pitfalls of over-engineered gear with too many bells and whistles leads to the rediscovery of shapes and mechanics that have and will continue to transcend time. The goal here for Morrison, however, was not to create objects with so-called timeless appeal, nor objects of fleeting novelty, but rather designs that carry a degree of familiarity and corresponding emotional resonance. The sustainable strategy—the skillful application of durable water-lacquered beech wood and stainless steel—needn’t be obvious, he shouted. Ease of use and perceived simplicity sound louder.
“For us, Jasper is a master of everyday objects,” said Mette Hay, co-founder of HAY. “It has an uncanny ability to make the ordinary feel essential, a perspective that closely aligns with our approach to design, where utility and longevity are central.”
The complete range is as suitable for a few days of exploring the wilderness as it is for a day at the beach, an afternoon picnic or an evening in the backyard. Includes folding chairs and love seats that can be quickly stored. They are much more refined and substantial than the unsightly folding metal camping chairs sold at your local camping store. It makes the prospect of spontaneous exit that much more appealing and supportive.
Next to the more structural canopies and folding tables are cooler, bottle and picnic bags. Shaped like two intersecting cones, the BBQ and Firepit products are as simple in their operation as they are satisfying in their shape. The adjacent plates, pans, grills, tongs, forks and skewers complete the offer. Brooms and dusters bring this nostalgic feeling.
The collection is now available both at the MoMA Design Store and through Design Within Reach. To shop, visit store.moma.org and dwr.comrespectively.
Photo courtesy of HAY.
