GROP bookcase is a furniture of the future. It can serve several different functions - it was designed to become a coffee table, a piece of furniture under the TV, a console, a bookcase. It will work well in the office, home, but also as a display object. The designers were inspired by the spirit of the Weimar school on the occasion of the centennial of the Bauhaus.
In an interview with Bartłomiej Pawlak and Łukasz Stawarski of the Pawlak&Stawarski studio, we will get to know the behind-the-scenes of the creation of the GROP collection, which was awarded in the must have 2020 poll.
Basia Hyjek: How was this project born?
Bartomiej Pawlak and Lukasz Stawarski: Bauhaus is a school that changed the way we think about design and its legacy is still an asset to the creative community today. In 2019, the Weimar-based school celebrated its 100th birthday. As designers, we wanted to celebrate this anniversary. At that time, we were approached by the LOFT DECORA brand and began our cooperation. It is a small company that makes its products artisanally, pays tribute to natural materials and handwork. It perfectly matched the values carried by the Bauhaus and so we decided to celebrate this anniversary with them.
Is structured, consists of modules that are the equivalent of the prefabricated units of the past and allows you to build larger layouts
photo by Wronika Trojanowska
Basia: What was his main inspiration?
Bartholomew and Lukasz: We looked at Bauhaus designs, but we didn't want to copy the visual solutions, but to capture its spirit. We didn't mean to create a piece of furniture from a century ago. Formally, the system obviously refers to that aesthetic, but it has been filtered through today's reality. It is structured, made up of modules that are the equivalent of the prefabricated pieces of the past, and allows you to build larger layouts. As a result, it adapts to the interior and functional needs that Bauhaus placed great emphasis on. They refer to architectural divisions - strongly emphasizes the levels and brings order to the interior.
Basia: Please tell us about the bookcase - what is the creative process like?
Bartholomew and Lukasz: Our creative process always looks similar. It is a recognition of the market and the needs of users. Then we look together with the company for the most interesting solutions and a niche that we could fill. There is a formal, technological or sentimental story behind each of our projects. In this case, the Bauhaus centennial and the history of the brand prompted us to create the GROP system. After finding the idea, it took us a lot of time and energy to develop a frame that would allow us to build stacked structures in a simple and clear way. We topped the whole thing off with book stops, which are made of natural wood in the shape of geometric figures to complete the atmosphere.
Each of us has a few projects in our home that came out of our office, but we are still preparing a place for the next ones that are in the process of implementation
photo by Weronika Trojanowska
Basia: Do you use your own creations in your homes?
Bartholomew and Lukasz: Yes, we each have in our homes several projects that came out of our office (including the GROP bookcase), but we are constantly preparing room for more that are in the pipeline. We use them on a daily basis - so we have the opportunity to test the qualities of use over time. Timeless design is important to us, and through use we also check how the material ages.
