New collection by La Chance

Milan 2013: French design brand La Chance launched its second collection in Milan earlier this month, featuring a bright red winged bench by Luca Nichetto and a fragmented coffee table by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance (+ slideshow).

New collection by La Chance
Earhart by Luca Nichetto

Among the new products unveiled by La Chance this year was Italian designer Luca Nichetto’s Earhart outdoor bench, which is named after aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart and finished in the shiny red of her Lockheed Vega aeroplane.

New collection by La Chance
Borghese coffee table by Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance

French designer Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance contributed a coffee table to complement his Borghese sofa, while Israeli designer Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldova presented Apollo, a cone-shaped glass and marble floor lamp.

New collection by La Chance
Apollo by Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldova

La Chance has also initiated new collaborations with Paris-based architects Tolila + Gilliland, who created a wall-mounted wood and marble coat hook called Jeeves, and German designer Sebastian Herkner, who came up with an occasional table to go with his Salute armchair.

New collection by La Chance
Jeeves by Tolila + Gilliland

Nathalie du Pasquier, a founding member of the influential Memphis Group, unveiled a rug called France, while Beijing architects PIDO (People’s Industrial Design Office) came up with a tilted shelving system made of cross-shaped modules that can be positioned horizontally or diagonally.

New collection by La Chance
Jeeves by Tolila + Gilliland

French designer Guillaume Delvigne produced two pendant lamps – Hal, a thin LED disk that fits under different glass shades, and Swan, a large glass pendant (not pictured).

New collection by La Chance
Salute occasional table by Sebastian Herkner

Finally, Spanish and Ecuadorian designers Jorge de la Cruz and Diana Vernaza Gonzenbach came up with Podium, a tubular candle holder that places one of its three candles at a lower height.

New collection by La Chance
France by Nathalie du Pasquier

The collection was unveiled in the Brera district of Milan during the city’s design week earlier this month – see all products and news from Milan 2013.

Last year’s inaugural collection by La Chance included designs by Nichetto, Duchaufour-Lawrance, Note Design Studio and Francois Dumas, and we also filmed an interview with the brand’s founder Jean-Baptiste Souletie while reporting on 2012’s design week.

Here’s some more details from La Chance:


One year after its launch during Salone 2012, La Chance is back in Milan to present 10 new products: tables, seating, shelves, but also a new range of lighting, a rug, and some accessories. The French brand carries on developing a distinctive style with references to Art Deco with a great variety of materials in graphic and decorative yet practical designs.

New collection by La Chance
Tilted wall system by PIDO

La Chance continues the collaboration with hyperactive designer Luca Nichetto who created Earhart, a scenic and aerial outdoor bench inspired by the aircraft industry. It is named after the American aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart and shares the shiny red color of her Lockheed plane. Noé Duchaufour Lawrance enriches the Borghese range with a coffee table that completes the acclaimed Borghese landscape sofa. They share the characteristic vegetal structure inspired by the pine trees of the Rome’s Villa Borghese. Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldova pursue the research on marble they began with the Iconic standing mirror and present Apollo, a surprising floor lamp that makes marble glow.

New collection by La Chance
Hal by Guillaume Delvigne

In addition, La Chance has initiated new collaborations and continues its search for talents worldwide with Spanish, German, American, French, Italian, Ecuadorian and also Chinese designers join in the team. Franco-­American architects Tolila + Gilliland have updated the conservative valet / jacket stand into an elegant wallmounted object made of wood and marble. It is called Jeeves in reference to the P.G Wodehouse novel character, a butler who defines himself as a gentleman’s personal gentleman. La Chance also works with Nathalie du Pasquier – founding member of the Memphis group ­‐ who created a rug called France. Strong graphics and explosive colors are the ingredients to this rug in line with her most spectacular creations. The rising star of German design Sebastian Herkner presents Salute, an occasional table meant to stand proudly by the side of the most iconic armchairs.

New collection by La Chance
Podium by Jorge de la Cruz and Diana Vernaza Gonzenbach

French designer Guillaume Delvigne has designed two very different pendant lamps: Hal is a small and easy lamp with a very simple and pure construction: a thin LED disk on which you can put different glass shades. On the other hand, Swan is an opulent large glass pendant with smooth curvy lines. La Chance also confirms its will to work with emerging talents and collaborates with Spanish and Ecuadorian designers Jorge de la Cruz and Diana Vernaza who designed a candle holder called Podium. La Chance also initiates one of the first collaborations between a European and a leading member of the boiling Chinese design scene. Beijing based architects PIDO 众产

La Chance launches at MOST

La Chance launches at MOST

Milan 2012: new French brand La Chance launches at MOST in Milan this week.

La Chance launches at MOST

Top and above: Tembo by Note Design Studio

Each piece comes in two colourways: the Jekyll versions feature shiny surfaces and primary colours while Hyde alternatives present the same designs in a muted palette and natural materials.

La Chance at MOST

Above: Bolt-Jekyll by Note Design Studio

The inaugural collection includes work by Luca Nichetto, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Note Design Studio and Francois Dumas.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Bolt-Hyde by Note Design Studio

Photography is by Stanislas Wolff.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Climb-Jekyll by Bashko Trybek

Watch an interview with La Chance founder Jean-Baptiste Souletie while he sets up the show in our first daily TV show filmed at Dezeen Studio powered by Jambox at MOST.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Climb-Hyde by Bashko Trybek

MOST takes place in Milan’s Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia from 17 to 22 April. Download the free map and guide here and see all our stories about MOST here.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Rhythm of light-Hyde by Suzanne de Graef

Here are some more details from La Chance:


La Chance debuts at MOST in Milan

An ambitious new design company, La Chance, launches at the Salone del Mobile, Milan this April, with Jekyll and Hyde, a furniture and lighting collection created by several of the hottest young designers around the world.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Float-Hyde by Luca Nichetto

By debuting in Milan at MOST – the high-profile platform for creative innovation instigated by Tom Dixon – La Chance is hitting the ground running. It’s the brainchild of Jean-Baptiste Souletie, 28 and Louise Breguet, 27. Souletie was previously in finance, and Breguet is an architect. When they met they discovered they were both inspired the spirit of the Art Deco movement, where objects were valued for their decorative attributes.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Rocky-Jekyll by Charles Kalpakian 

“We like things to be warm, colourful, and good quality,” she adds. “And in terms of style, you can see all the workings of the furniture, even the upholstered pieces, as we have nothing to hide.” The French duo has taken a commercial approach to their business, thoroughly researching their market, and sourcing manufacturers around Europe.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Rocky-Hyde by Charles Kalpakian

This commercial approach is reflected in the collection’s theme: dual identity. “We see two potential audiences for luxury furniture,” says Souletie, “there are the design enthusiasts, who want uncompromising pieces in bold colours. Then there are people who love contemporary design but prefer more muted tones.”

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Iconic-Jekyll by Pool Design

To accommodate these two audiences, each piece comes in two versions: Jekyll and Hyde. The Jekyll version features prime colours and shiny finishes, while Hyde is in monotone or natural materials, like brushed metal and oiled wood. La Chance is combining a market approach with a design statement; “we’re saying to consumers: choose your personality,” says Souletie.

La Chance launches at MOST

Above: Iconic-Hyde by Pool Design

PARTICIPATING DESIGNERS

This stunning collection is created by some fresh talent alongside some better-known names, who are yet to establish themselves on the international stage:

1 Pierre Favresse (FR) was appointed artistic director of Habitat in December 2011. His dining table, Magnum, has sturdy elements – chunky legs and a weighty top – joined by a delicate-looking metal grid structure.

2 Bashko Trybek (PL) was selected as one of Elle Deco’s Young Designer Talent 2011. His Climb shelving system, with its exposed wire elements, epitomizes La Chance’s interest in revealing an object’s workings.

3 Suzanne de Graef (NL), based in Eindhoven, has designed Rhythm of light, a pendant light influenced by the classical lighting found at The Château of Versailles.

4 Luca Nichetto (IT) has collaborated with Foscarini, Established & Sons, Moroso and others. His Float coffee table comprises a large aluminum cone seemingly floating over a circular mirror.

5 Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance (FR) designed London’s Sketch club, and has since won a Red Dot award for his Corvo chair for Bernhardt Design. His Borghese sofa is a light, sculptural piece, its shape paying homage to the pine trees in Rome’s Villa Borghese.

6 Charles Kalpakian (FR/Lebanese), who is based in Paris, has created an angular credenza or storage unit, which plays with 3D and colour.

7 Note Design Studio (SE) is a collective of creatives in Stockholm. They’ve designed two pieces for La Chance: Bolt, a stool of four pieces of ash wood looped by a metal ring; and Tembo, a high stool of cork, , wood and metal.

8 Francois Dumas (FR) worked at the Bouroullec brothers’ studio in Paris, and has since set up Krux, an art and design collective in Amsterdam. This tufted wool carpet, Anenome, is based on one of his own paintings. His second piece is Sealed, an elegant chair of bent wood.

9 Dan Yeffet and Lucie Koldova (IL/CZ), worked with Arik Levy until 2010. They were originally commissioned by La Chance to design two pieces: a mirror and a screen. They combined the two to create Private in metal and felt.

10 Pool Design (FR) took part in the Nouvelle Vague exhibition in Milan in 2010. Their table lamp, Pool, is a deceptively simple piece in aluminum or Corian.

11 Jonah Takagi (US), was born in Tokyo, and has collaborated with Matter and Kvadrat, among others. His Tip-Top table lamp has an aluminum base and comes with a shade of either grey gall or transparent glass.

National Museum of Science and Technology,
Via Olona 6, 20123 Milan, Italy
Entrance through Via Olona 6

Dates: Tuesday 17 April, 10AM – 9PM Wednesday 18 April, 10AM – 6PM
Thursday 19 – Saturday 21 April, 10AM – 9PM Sunday 22 April, 10AM – 6PM
Press Preview: Monday 16 April, 3PM-7PM

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