daphné keraudren's metal hung seats challenge the norms of architecture in public buildings

Playground: suspended metal seats by Daphné Keraudren

Daphné Keraudren, a French-Greek architect, defies traditional ideas of art and architecture with her metal hanging seating structures. Her vibrant sculptures can be seen in public spaces, museums, and private collections, investigating ‘the aspects of architecture that are ignored, ‘forbidden,’ or overlooked because of their social, economic, and political context.’ In her latest creation, Playground, she suspended yellow metal seats from the grand balconies of the Brussels Courthouse interior. This unconventional approach allows people to experience the building’s architecture in a whole new way.

image by Emile Tonnelier, unless stated otherwise

Metal Sculptures breathe Life into Stillness

Keraudren (see more here) is well-known for her innovative approach to sculptural design, particularly in the realm of metalwork. She explores the raw and rugged beauty of metals, experimenting with a wide range of techniques, from traditional blacksmithing to modern technologies like laser cutting and 3D printing. Her work stands out for its ability to infuse life and movement into static metal, resulting in sculptures that defy gravity and flow with organic fluidity.

For her previous collection, the architect collaborated with Ateliers J&J (more here), introducing an intersection between her project Use at your Own Risk (2021) and the production system of the Ateliers. With their versatile design, these pieces are suitable for both private and public outdoor use, blending tailor-made craftsmanship and in-situ adaptation in terms of functionality and typology. As for the Use at your Own Risk (2021) collection, the architect describes: ‘They enable a new experience and perspective on the city and its use, questioning the appropriation of public space and a large number of legal and urban planning issues. Each object, hung to Amsterdam’s existing infrastructure, is a negotiation between the self and the other, the public and the private, the outside and the inside.’

Playground series suspended within the Brussels Courthouse