Modern Furniture Made From Volcanic Rock by Maffam Freeform of Latvia.

The Manu series of products from Maffam Freeform, a workshop of the Latvian interior designer Raimonds Cirulis, is made from Volcanic rock (basalt) fibers bonded with eco-resins. Each item is one-of-a-kind, practical, and 100% handmade.





The furniture collection is designed for the outdoors but can also be used in large indoor spaces. The seats, tables and other products in the collection are waterproof, sturdy, environmentally friendly, unbelievably light, and distinctly innovative due to the properties of basalt.









The company, Maffram Freeform, offers hand-made furniture for garden or terraces, as well as stylish design objects. "I wanted to find and think of something unique. Something new and I did it," says designer Raimonds Cirulis. He is the first person in the world to make furniture from basalt fibers.





The designer has managed to develop 17 types of design objects. The furniture is light, but stable, and has the unique basalt lace pattern. Two identical objects are impossible to make, because every piece of furniture is 100% hand made.




Uniqueness lies in two important aspects. Firstly, basalt absorbs all kinds of harmful rays - ultraviolet, radio, electromagnetic, mobile phone, even the earth gravitational radiation and X-rays, emphasizes the designer. So people are protected when they are relaxing in basalt furniture from many things which can negatively affect them. Secondly, basalt is unusually durable - even stronger than fiberglass. Therefore the furniture will last for generations.

"This furniture not only takes a practical, utilitarian function, but with that comes story of its unique design and mysterious volcanic origin. Every product have it’s personality," said SIA "Maffam Freeform" project manager Karlis Parsonoks. The company focuses on three main customer groups - hotel, leisure center, restaurant owners, people who are able to pay for a unique design, interior design showrooms.



Note: The Manu Nest suspended chair will soon be available in the two sizes shown above.

Maffam Freeform is a workshop of the Latvian interior designer Raimonds Cirulis, creating unique items from basalt fibers bonded with eco-resins – true synthesis of art and technology. Each item is one-of-a-kind, practical, and 100% handmade. More than 10 freeform pieces are included in the 2011 Maffam Freeform collection, with new items added monthly.

Maffam Freeform

Bring the Outdoors In. The Cristal Box, a Modern Pergola from Gandia Blasco.

above: Cristal Box 1

Looking for a modern sanctuary?
Gandia Blasco, makers of high end outdoor funishings have just introduced the Cristal Box, an outdoor pergola system made of anodized or thermo-lacquered white or taupe aluminum frames. Available in four different sizes/configurations, the inside flooring is wood made of plant and plastic fibres which requires little or no maintenance. The ceiling is made from phenolic plate and the outer roof is galvanized sheeting.

Cristal Box 2:



Cristal Box 3:



Cristal Box 4:



Note: Glass not included.

320 x 320 x 250h cm / 630 x 320 x 250h cm / 940 x 320 x 250h cm / 630 x 630 x 250h cm
126''x126''x99''h / 248''x126''x99''h / 370''x126''x99''h / 248''x248''x99''h

The Cristal Box for Gandia-Blasco designed by José A. Gandía-Blasco
Price available upon request

White Fiberglass Skull Chair By Pool.

This simple, modern white fiberglass skull chair, by Léa Padovani & Sébastien Kieffer of Pool, made its debut at the 2011 Milan Furniture Fair.




"Souviens toi que tu vas mourir, chair” (translated :"Remember that you will die") is described by the designers as "an emblematic monobloc chair reinterpreted as an expression of vanity. This memento mori represented by a skull acts as a leitmotiv for those who seek the comfort of a chair and the ceremonial act of being seated."



photos ©Benjamin Le Du

material : fiberglass
dimensions : L55cm W50cm H88cm


Pool is Léa Padovani & Sébastien Kieffer. They live and work in Paris.

Designer Thomas de Lussac's Whimsical Outdoor Benches & Home Decor.

French Industrial designer Thomas de Lussac has a mind for functional whimsy. His many designs for everything from lamps to outdoor benches often incorporate the human element in bright and fun colors.

While he also works in woods and has several sophisticated furniture collections to his credit(and yes, you should see those, too), I am sharing with you some of his more "FUNctional" pieces today.


The Mona Lisa bench:

The You and I bench:

The Tennis bench:

Cosmo and Moonwalk lamps:

Table runner:

Robot Trobo toilet paper holders:


Skull and Bones Wall Sconce:

Freeway Vases:

Welcome Vase (grenade):


Tyrannosaurus Wall rack:


Shop for the many of the above products here at his online store.

Designer Thomas de Lussac: