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Cobra Studios channels neo-futuristic furniture design for a Brussels office
The interiors of the SHELL building are adorned by Cobra Studios
Image: Courtesy of Tijs Vervecken
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Cobra Studios channels neo-futuristic furniture design for a Brussels office

A stark contrast to the Art Deco interiors of the Shell building, Cobra Studios conceptualised an interior scheme for the Brussels-based Sparks Office using materials such as resin, steel, stone and even repurposed junk.

by Ayushi Mathur
Published on : Oct 18, 2022

Brussels-based creative design firm Cobra Studios was founded by architect Kenny Decommer and scenographic designer Hugues Delaunay in 2020. The creative studio experiments with post-modernist aesthetics and colliding geometries —changing colours to create furniture pieces and interior design spaces. They aim at counterbalancing the existing design scene with fresh materials, techniques and design approaches. Corresponding to the studio’s practice, both Decommer and Delaunay continue to channel contradiction as a key in their designed spaces and have set foot into furniture, lighting as well as interior design.

For the new location of Sparks, a communications and event organising company, the creative design studio has come up with a contemporary interior concept within the confines of the prestigious Art Deco Shell building near the Brussels Central Station. Cobra Studios successfully retained the Art Deco interiors of the historic building with a fresh take on the historic art and architectural style of decorative art. The concept brief included building a dozen meeting rooms, a bar with a restaurant, an entrance hall, several restrooms that fit within 2,500 square meters of space along with custom furniture pieces befitting each space. As an outcome, a startling yet captivating universe full of contrasts emerges. Even while each space has a personality of its own, the overall effect is one of conformity and contemporaneity. “We used wall cladding in covering for cars, tubes that come from brooms, signage that comes from tuning for cars, arches and handrails in soft polished acrylic… We wanted to create a futuristic approach to the decorative arts movement,” says Decommer.

A playful couch was added by the studio into the office space
A playful couch was added by the studio into the office space Image: Courtesy of Tijs Vervecken

The furniture designed by the studio appears to be minimal, neo-futuristic and monocoloured. It holds good as complementing and contrasting the existing interiors of the historic space alongside the existing furniture. Authentically, the Art Deco furniture was characterised by clear geometric lines, exotic materials, sinuous details and mirrored and metal accents. Cobra studios try to capture a similar vibe through their illustrious resin chairs, vibrant lamps and shiny metal tables.

The custom furniture designed by Cobra Studios
The custom furniture designed by Cobra Studios Image: Courtesy of Tijs Vervecken
The Sparks office spaces designed by Cobra Studios
The Sparks office spaces designed by Cobra Studios Image: Courtesy of Tijs Vervecken

“Entering at Sparks means entering a new environment, a world of contrast and reflection, perfect for new tendency meetings,” conclude Decommer and Delaunay. Cobra Studios established the floors of the oval hall of the Shell Building, designed by the Belgian sculptor Olivier Strebelle, as the starting point of their furniture design and interior design scheme comprising the 3 colours of marble and insertions of ceramics as their colour palette. They threw in a mix of existing materials including travertine, marble and concrete combined with latex, clay, stainless steel, foam, resin, velvet and aluminium to embellish the entire space and all of the furniture. The glazing metals combined with the soft-coloured sheen stones impart a theatrical vibe with a cosy and warm atmosphere.

The colourful interiors of the Sparks office designed by Cobra Studios
The colourful interiors of the Sparks office designed by Cobra Studios Image: Courtesy of Tijs Vervecken

They were then combined with the existing furniture pieces from their previous collections appertaining the limited budget. However, the outlook of the entire space widely illuminated the rich cultural vibe of the 1980s. The pots were manufactured in Puglia, Italy by 'la Bottega di Giuseppe Indino. The studio also partnered with S.T.R.S. a production studio based in Rotterdam, for producing different furniture pieces.

The Tubo chair designed by Cobra Studios
The Tubo chair designed by Cobra Studios Image: Courtesy of Mathijs Labadie
The Halter and Cross lights designed by Cobra Studios
The Halter and Cross lights designed by Cobra Studios Image: Courtesy of Mathijs Labadie

The design studio created ‘Cross’ tables that interact with the different sources of light through the medium of the crossing mirrors supporting the round table top. Furthermore, they created different lighting solutions and aesthetic lamps using colour-induced resin and marble including the different variations of the ‘Halter’ lamps and the ‘Cross’ lamps. An interesting component of the Sparks office space was the Tubo green chair which the Cobra studios designed using the contrasting green resin back, crystal clear legs and a soft leather cushion. Decommer and Delaunay, conceived different chair designs all across the space using different materials in unusual combinations that almost immediately offer the observers a neo-futuristic outlook.

The Colonna seat by Cobra Studios
The Colonna seat by Cobra Studios Image: Courtesy of Mathijs Labadie

Working inside the four walls of a landmark is a source of pride, but it also bears the added responsibility of sustaining design standards. The Cobra studios created a new spin on the traditional Art Deco style of design with the innovative interiors of the Sparks office. They effectively created the environment and furniture incorporating the building's classical character while adding a modern touch through various design aspects.

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