Fabrica and Tai Ping Carpets : From the Floor Up Rug Collection

During the London Design Festival from September 18 to 20, Fabrica and Tai Ping Carpets present “From the Floor Up”, a collection in which Tai Ping rugs become works of art as eight young designers reinterpret conventional carpets and leave behind the customary use of a horizontally placed rug. With the rich savoir-faire of Tai Ping as foundation, Fabrica’s designers crafted unexpected narrative objects. From the rural Chinese origins of the company to this exhibition, the works are inspired by natural elements such as raindrops, curtains and fallen trees.

Above – Foliage rug by Sam Baron

The 9 unique pieces are furniture, shelter and illustrations – folded, rolled and suspended as imaginative extensions of what the carpet can become. Altogether the exhibits pays homage to the diversity of Tai Ping’s craft, interwoven with Fabrica’s creative spirit.

The exhibit will be on display at The Midori House, HQ of The Monocle in Marylebone, London.

Foliage rug by Sam Baron, director of Fabrica design department

 

 

The carpet making process is similar to the delicate growth of ivy, spreading organically over a vertical surface. Foliage conveys this technique with two hanging curtains, densely layered with lush textile vegetation, which creep from floor to the ceiling, drawn to the sunlight. The carpet backing will eventually becovered by this organic matter, as if guided by the drawn lines of the Tai Ping artisans.

 

 

 

Dog’s Caprice dog house by David Raffoul

 

 

 

Dedicated to all dog owners, this dog house is constructed in carpet to satisfy a dog’s capricious desires. As we know, dogs love to play on carpets, so with a special pattern of volumed pyramids, this piece helps the dog do just that. A small carpet made of 100% of silk is placed inside the house to add comfort for the puppy.

 

 

 

Left – Fields shelves by Valentina Carretta / Right – Reservoir rug by Dean Brown

Fields shelves by Valentina Carretta

 

 

Flat surfaces fold, rise and reform to create three shelves of different levels: from the high console to leave keys on when you arrive home, to the low support that hides a space for your shoes. They represent an invitationto slowly lay down and relax. The choice of materials also support this gesture: from the raw feeling of loop wool to the soft, warm wool and silk fibres that invite touch.

 

 

Reservoir rug by Dean Brown

 

 

A silk river collects in a series of wall mounted containers, falling fluidly from one to the next, eventually pouring onto the floor and rippling into a deep pool. The concept is inspired by the depth and subtlety of textile production and expresses the innate potential of a carpet moving gracefully from the wall to the floor, where it is typically found.

 

 

 

Left – Raindrops installation by Giorgia Zanellato / Right – Layers bench by Mariana Fernandes

Raindrops installation by Giorgia Zanellato

 

 

Five carpets rise up from the floor to become raindrops, the alcove becoming precious spaces to store different things. The drops hang gracefully as a kind of entrance furniture, complimented by a small bench. Every drop features a specific finishing to define a special role for each space – from soft small ones to protect, torough accommodating ones to store. The overall composition is a raining landscape of possibilities.

 

 

 

Layers bench by MarianaFernandes

 

 

 

Inspired by the rustic benches made by Tai Ping’s Chinese artisans, this piece features carpet designed in simple bench structures. Layers uses different sizes, heights and patterns to play with the idea of sitting. Whatever the posture or position of the benches, we find ourselves always sitting on carpet.

 

 

 

Still Life console table by Charlotte Juillard

 

 

 

Carpets are generally used as an adornment in the centre of a room. Still Life is a console table where the decorative function of the carpet moves from the floor to the table – from horizontal to vertical. The beauty of the object is highlighted through the rich material, creating a detailed still life composition. It represents an uncommon way to view a carpet, as an object of narrative and art.

 

 

Tree Trunk bench by Ryu Yamamoto

 

 

By sitting on Tree Trunk we understand the organic layering effect of wood. Through the combination of colour gradient and cut outs, the carpet rolls together to reveal the layers of a tree and forms a natural bench. The piece uses a variety of tones and textures to depict the growth process through the contours of a tree’s annual rings.

 

 

Tree Trunk bench by Ryu Yamamoto

Draft frames by Catarina Carreiras

 

 

Using Tai Ping’s array of textures as a palette, these hand drawn surfaces are a tribute to the simplicity of a beautiful Renaissance sketch. As frames, they enhance the stillness of a white wall and tell the story of the Parisian intricate plaster “frises”. As carpets, they pay homage to the complexity of the company’s tufting techniques and their craftsmen.

 

 

 

 

 

The Fabrica Design Team — with Charlotte Juillard, Catarina Carreiras, Giorgia Zanellato, Mariana Fernandes, Valentina Carretta, Ryu Yamamoto and David Raffoul in Paris.

Photos © Fabrica / Tai Ping Carpets