10-04-2018

Richard Yasmine and the bearable lightness of design

Richard Yasmine,

BizarreBeirut,

Beirut, Lebanon, Milan,

Glass, Marble, Metal,

Interior Design, FuoriSalone,

With HAWA Beirut, Lebanese designer Richard Yasmine created a collection of pastel-hued furniture with a timeless beauty, whose arches are a tribute to Lebanese architecture.



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Richard Yasmine and the bearable lightness of design With HAWA Beirut, Lebanese designer Richard Yasmine created a collection of pastel-hued furniture with a timeless beauty, whose arches are a tribute to Lebanese architecture. This is an example of his creative approach, that starts from the local tradition to create surprising new objects.


In Arabic, Hawa means light summer breeze, but also deep love. Taking a closer look at HAWA Beirut, the new furniture collection designed by Lebanese designer Richard Yasmine, we can almost feel a scented Mediterranean breeze, making us think of the marvels of a fascinating country such as Lebanon.
Richard Yasmine is known for his design approach that is deeply linked to the great local artisanal tradition. His skilled artisans create the objects he conceives and this time, he was inspired by Lebanese architecture, in which arches are one of the most important elements. 
The HAWA Beirut collection comprises a chair, an upholstered chair, a coffee table and a decorative screen. These ethereal, light and pastel-hued elements convey a sensual feeling of calm, and invite us to stop, contemplate them and dream. Thanks to its materials, carefully selected by Richard Yasmine, this collection is thought to last in time, offering to its users an intrinsic value. Indeed, HAWA Beirut combines the powder-coloured steel of the structures and soft upholstery with handmade silk braiding cords and tassels, pink marble and blown glass, stained according to a traditional craftsmanship technique.
In the words of Giorgio Armani: “To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focussed on the smallest detail.” As a matter of fact, this is what Richard Yasmine did with HAWA Beirut. In its work we find details referring to the history of Lebanon, its architecture and the several historical, cultural and religious influences it has had, including Phoenician, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad, Crusader, Mamluk, Ottoman and French influences. 
This cross-over of cultures is represented by furniture that makes us feel Hawa, a summer breeze that is light and at the same time rich of memories that show us the deep love Richard Yasmine feels for his land.

Christiane Bürklein

Project: Richard Yasmine - www.richardyasmine.com/
Year: 2018
Images: BizzareBeirut
Hawa Beirut is on display at the Fuorisalone of Milan (FuturDome, at Via Paisiello 6.

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