45 years of history abridged
Tectona’s commitment is best reflected in the longevity of furniture it has been making for 45 years. It is also what drives the brand to fully master all the techniques implemented for each of its creations, whether in wood, woven resin or aluminium. From design to prototyping, every single aspect is studied in painstaking detail before entering production. The various stages are your assurance that products bearing the Tectona name are unfailingly sturdy and absolutely impervious to the weather conditions they’ll be exposed to during their life outdoors. Simply put, they defy the passage of time!
1977 : Tectona was founded
The Tectona brand was founded. Influenced by British garden furniture, teak was the brand’s material of choice. From the very start, Tectona set out to create durable furniture which could be handed down from generation to generation.
Tectona and the Design
- 1992 :Tectona’s entry into contemporary design is proclaimed by the launch of a bench designed by Andrée Putman for CAPC (Contemporary Art Museum of Bordeaux).
- 2001 : Start of Tectona’s collaboration with the designer Christophe Delcourt who will renew forms and modernise the brand’s classics.
- 2003 : First exchanges with Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Five years later, the avant-garde Pebble collection was launched. The upside-down baskets of this collection are a free interpretation of the famous teak Circle Bench, present in the Tectona catalogue since 1977.
In 2002, the Colonial collection signifies the entry of woven resin into the Tectona universe, enriching the brand’s repertoire while offering all usual guarantees of durability cherished by the brand.
2006 : the 1800 collection is born
The first bench, in aluminium, was launched in a blue-grey colour specially developed by Tectona to lend a touch of modernity to the neoclassic forms of this collection, which would go on to become one of the brand’s icons.
Tectona and the Design
- 2007 : First collaboration with the designer Pierre Charpin for the umpire’s chair and the players’ bench
- 2009 :The first outdoor shower, Delta, was conceived by the designer Inga Sempé.
- 2012 : Collaborations with Barber & Osgerby and with Industrial Facility.
in 2011, Initial contacts with ECAL (Lausanne University of Art and Design), ranked among the ten best design schools in the world, which heralded a series of mutually beneficial and fruitful exchanges and collaborations (Anthony Guex, BIG-GAME, Julie Richoz…)
2015 : Constance Guisset creates a modular collection
Constance Guisset creates the modular collection Chelsea, making the lounge experience accessible outdoors.
2017: Tectona celebrates its 40th anniversary
Tectona celebrates its fortieth year by holding an international competition open to young designers for the design of a table and chair ensemble in teak. Eleven designers from across the globe made the shortlist and the prize was awarded to the Thai duo Thinkk Studio for Batten, which has since been produced by Tectona. Launch of Studio Tectona dedicated to the creations of young designers. Launch of the Cicala collection by Julie Richoz.
2018 : BIG-GAME
Launch of the Clubhouse collection by BIG-GAME. The teak furniture, extremely durable, compact and comfortable, stackable and easy to handle, is equally at home in the outdoor area of a restaurant as the balcony of a private home.
2020 : Tectona & the Château de Versailles
Launch of the Grande Ecurie- Versailles bench developed in partnership with the Château de Versailles; it bears the style of Maison Jacob-Desmalter, the main supplier to palaces in the mid-18th century.
2022: Birth of the Bamboo collection
Apart from its perfect design, bamboo is characterised by its complete resistance to the elements. The same can be said of Tectona furniture: the Bamboo dining suite is made from aluminium, a durable material, and powder-coated in black, a process that also reinforces its shock-resistance. The generous seat, the ideal reclining angle of the backrest and the curved arms maximise the armchair’s comfort while the crosslegs ensure utmost stability and allow greater freedom of movement for human legs! The suite is a wonderful addition to patios and gardens, lending a sophisticated Japanese-inspired air for many years to come.
2023: Soleil, a "haute couture" collection by Martin Szekely
In its commitment to sustainability and good practice, Tectona has chosen to open its repertoire to larch, a particularly resistant, rot-proof and extremely dense wood. Traditional woodworking skills are combined with numerically controlled tools to achieve absolute precision in the assembly of the various furniture elements.
