Interview: Pierre Sindre

Swedish architect and designer Pierre Sindre is one of Bebo's collaborative designers. We talked about what drives him as a designer and his views on sustainability in furniture manufacturing.

How did you get into furniture design?

"I've always appreciated beautiful things. When I moved out from home, I couldn't afford to buy the furniture I wanted, so I started building my own. Which eventually led me to the furniture design program at Konstfack. I think my drive in design stems from wanting to make my mark on the world, but as the son of a factory worker, I also have a weakness for the factory floor. I love being on-site, getting inspiration from different manufacturing methods, engaging in dialogue, and being part of the machinery. It's not just about squeezing out a fun gadget; I want to create jobs."

How would you define good design?

"For me, and this may sound pretentious, good design is about the perfect blend of form and function. Not sketching two valves, even though it feels more symmetrical, when only one is needed. My design focus often lies on the part of the furniture where two different units attach. It can be separate materials or vastly different angles. If they meet in an interesting way, you often find the furniture's hallmark. Take, for example, the Bebo Lyre chair; if you look at the chair from the side, the backrest has a ninety-degree tilt. It's usually uncomfortable to sit in, but when the strings are pulled taut, the shape transitions from concave to convex, making the chair comfortable and creating an exciting form."

"My design focus often lies on the part of the furniture where two different units attach. It can be separate materials or vastly different angles. If they meet in an interesting way, you often find the furniture's hallmark."

What is your interpretation of the concept of inside/outside?

"I've chosen to work with as little material as possible. I find it interesting that the Lyre's strings make it look padded. At the same time, it has an indoor/outdoor function in that you can knock the chair if it has rained so that the water easily falls off, and in your living room, it's discreet and sleek. I was involved at an early stage of Bebo Object and have contributed to developing the concept through various discussions. It's always fun to influence the direction of a company and set the tone."

How has sustainability shaped your Bebo collection?

"Sustainability has been there all along. We've made Lyre stackable to facilitate transportation, chosen sustainable materials, and ensured that furniture units can be easily separated. For example, we've completely avoided gluing fabrics, upholstery, and foam together. Lyre's stainless steel frame will outlast all of us; it's almost impossible to kill, but after a certain number of years, the string may need to be replaced, and we've made that step easy. For IKEA, sustainability is about grinding down entire furniture pieces into a pulp and reusing the materials, but for quality furniture, it's about helping the furniture to be resurrected through restoration."

How would your children describe you?

"I'd like to say attentive, but they would probably say childish."