Aero: A Nostalgic Ode to Aviation in Furniture Design

Gerardo Rios Altamirano's Award-Winning Credenza Inspired by Early Aviation

The Aero credenza is more than just a storage unit; it's a time capsule that transports us back to an era of optimism and progress. Inspired by the mysticism and technicality of aerodynamics, the piece captures the emotional state of the 1920s to 1940s, a time when everything seemed possible, and everyone felt part of the progress. This sentiment contrasts sharply with the current feeling that progress is outpacing us.

The Aero's unique properties lie in its ability to evoke an emotional reaction and perception. Its mix of shapes and materials is designed to stimulate the senses, and the piece even interacts with its environment by projecting beams of light onto the floor and wall through refraction. The grace of its silhouette and the blue glass symbolizing the firmament further enhance its aesthetic appeal.

The credenza is made primarily of red oak, with details of zebrano sapelli wood. Its top features a 12mm transparent colored glass that can be customized in different tones. The doors are equipped with high-end soft-closing hinges, and the interior drawer is mounted on hidden soft-closing glides. The piece measures 2100mm in length, 600mm in depth, and 730mm in height.

The Aero was realized through a combination of high-tech machinery cuts and the unique precision of handwork. The final shapes and assembly are handmade, and the finish is a six-layer polyurethane varnish. The design process began in November 2016 with a visit to an aviation history museum and culminated in July 2017 with the completion of the final CAD drawings and prototypes.

The biggest challenge in creating the Aero was the abstraction towards modern forms. The piece was initially sculpted by hand before being digitized with a 3D scanner. This process was necessary to maintain the integrity of the design and not subordinate it to technical possibilities. The result is a piece that stands out due to its aerodynamic shapes and the lightness of its structure, embodying the silhouettes of the first airplanes from the early 20th century.

In conclusion, Gerardo Rios Altamirano's Aero is a stunning piece of furniture that is both a functional storage unit and a work of art. Its design, inspired by the golden age of aviation, evokes a sense of nostalgia and wonder, making it a worthy winner of the Silver A' Furniture Design Award in 2018.