Julie Richoz designs Bibolina for Alki, inspired by classic Parisian café tables and chairs

The Alki brand invited the Franco-Swiss designer Julie Richoz to bring a new perspective to the brand’s know-how: the multi-piece Bibolina collection is the fun and bold result.Playing with the contrast of materials, metal and solid oak, and the use of various colours, this collection, with its sleek and refined lines, is composed of a seat and a table system.

Decidedly practical and functional (detachable, flat-pack delivery, stackable…), this is a simple collection thanks to the logical construction of its products and the integrated use of materials. These versatile objects are in tune with the times and will be a pleasure to use… for a long time to come.

Bibolina chair

The Bibolina chair has all the charm of a small bistro chair. Inspired by the lines of this iconic seat, Julie Richoz has created a contemporary object that appears graceful and subtly elegant. It reflects all the know-how of Alki’s master craftsmen and meets today’s requirements of lightness and stackability, with an intelligent use of raw materials.

The starting point for the Bibolina chair was to go back to Alki’s basics: to offer a chair made of solid oak bentwood, compact and easy to handle, without compromising on comfort. The backrest and legs of the chair are made of solid bent oak. The slightly curved seat is in three-layer oak. The name Bibolina, violin in Basque, reminds us of the feminine curves of the instrument present in this chair.

Bibolina bistro table

The Bibolina bistro table recalls the charm of the tables found in Parisian cafés and bistros in the early 19th century. Inspired by the lines of this iconic object, Julie Richoz has created a contemporary and versatile piece that adapts to different contexts and settings thanks to its compact shape and the play of contrasting colours and materials. This practical and useful product can be dismantled and delivered flat. The top and base are made of solid oak; the foot can be made of wood or painted metal.

Bibolina Table

Following the line of the collection, the designer Julie Richoz creates this table that also plays with the contrast of materials, metal and solid oak, and the use of various colours in its metal legs. A table with elegant and refined lines with wooden or metal legs, which can be used as a dining table, office table or catering table, in various sizes.

Project: Bibolina Collection.
Design: Julie Richoz.
Collection: Silla y sistema de mesas.
Brand: Alki.
Photography: Mito.

Julie Richoz

Julie Richoz (1990) is a Swiss-French designer. After graduating from ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne (2012), she worked for Pierre Charpin as a project assistant (2013-2015). She then set up her design studio in Paris, where she works with curiosity and sensitivity, to develop her own language through objects. She designs unique pieces or pieces on an industrial scale. For her there is a continuity rather than a difference between the two forms of production. In both cases, she is fascinated by savoir-faire, passion and precision in the handling of materials.

His design activity covers objects, furniture, lighting and textiles for companies such as Alessi, Alki, Vitra, Tectona, Hay, La Manufacture de Cogolin, Galerie kreo and others.

She was a resident designer at CIRVA/ Research Center on Art and Glass in Marseille (2013), at Sèvres/ Cité de la Céramique (2013), and at Casa Wabi, Mexico (2017). She was awarded the Grand Prix at Design Parade (2012), Swiss Design Awards (2015 / 2019), Bourse Leenaards (2016) and was a finalist of Hublot Design Price (2016). Since 2017, she has been teaching industrial design at ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne.

Alki

Alki was born and raised in the Basque Country. Its approach as a cooperative goes beyond simple production to embrace social and environmental responsibility and involvement in the militant culture of the Basque Country.

Alki was founded in 1981, at the height of the economic, social and political crisis. Faced with the flight of young people from the Basque Country in search of opportunities, five friends decided to pool their energies and hopes to create skilled jobs and thus contribute to the development of economic activity in the Basque Country.

It was in Itxassou, a village far from industrialisation, that the first Alki workshop found its home. A strong impulse of ideological and economic support allowed Alki to see the light of day, in the form of a cooperative with profound values that go far beyond the economic dimension.

Through its local production, Alki creates authentic, high quality and carefully finished pieces. Alki inherits the craftsmanship in the production of resolutely contemporary pieces.

Fuente: Alki.

Project by Julie Richoz