French elegance according to Christophe Delcourt
Christophe Delcourt, a creator of timeless design, is one of the greatest ambassadors of French elegance. His longstanding collaboration with Tectona, 22 years and counting, has helped to define a comfortable and timeless outdoor lifestyle.
How did your collaboration with Tectona begin?
The Tectona team approachedbme to invite me to participate in a design competition. Ivreally liked the brand, whichvI already knew for theirvcircular teak bench, and I alsovappreciated their image, theirvaura. At the time, Tectonavwas one of the rare playersvactive in the outdoor market.vEven though I didn’t win thevcompetition, Arnaud Brunel,vthe president of Tectona,vphoned me and invited mevto work on the contents ofvthe catalogue… Since thenvwe’ve regularly collaborated.
I immediately appreciated the family orientation of the company: minimal contact points and direct interactions meant that we could advance rapidly. Such communication is essential for my work. We worked together on exclusive models and on a line that would give the brand a firm footing in modernity. I’m fascinated by wood and I designed several models using this material; in all cases, use and comfort were the cornerstones.
Why are you fascinated by wood?
We know where it comes from, how it gets to us and how to recycle it when it uses mortice and tenon joints, a technique that requires very little metal. I live in Normandy, land of water and wood is truly the raw material that forms the best patina. The colour becomes more beautiful, it’s very easy to care for… Wood is perfectly suited to all climates.
The collections remain in the catalogue after all these years… I share Tectona’s quest for timelessness: the idea isn’t for a given collection to replace another one. I advocate for an aesthetic as durable as possible and so I’m happy to have created a strong foundation for the Tectona catalogue. I like to take my time doing things… Together we are redefining classics, a contemporary French style. It’s never about designers putting on a performance.
Can you describe the collections that you imagined for Tectona?
With the Somerset collection, I wanted to demonstrate that wood could be comfortable and modern. I wanted to work the garden bench in a different way, to achieve comfort through the seating’s curve. For Exeter, I imagined a light stackable chair of fluid. design, something that didn’t exist at the time. Lightness is a key value because it seems to me that modernity in gardens is the possibility of moulding perceptions, the exact opposite of static furniture. I wanted to rid the outdoors of its stuffy academic image.
