For industrial designer Anna Buechin, charting unknown territory seems like second nature. After having concentrated her design energies on consumer electronics and household appliances for some time, Buechin has now moved on to home furnishings and furniture. While her furniture pieces may be few and far between at the moment, they provide a welcome and refreshing refuge from the occasional bout of design ennui.

Felted Stool. Designed by Anna Buechin.

Buechin's Felted Stool has been selected for the Prototypes exhibition at Toronto’s Interior Design Show (IDS09). The designer's astute hand in the work is hard to ignore as the stool reverberates with an understated flamboyance.  The softness of the woolen felt elements that compose the cushion juxtaposes brilliantly with the hardness of the sculptural and angular steel structure. The three dimensional silhouette is intentional and the stool, also touching on the realm of environmental consciousness, assures us of minimum fabric waste.

Anna Buechin's stint with Toronto housewares manufacturer Umbra has been documented extensively on her website and for good reason. By employing melamine as a primary material, the designer shows a perspective that is truly unique to the current design continuum. The Umbra Magazine Rack with its dual tonal effect is a paradox of subtlety and drama, creating a strong visual language and enduring impact. 

The kaleidoscopic colour explosion of the Felted Stool or the monochromatic palette of the Umbra Magazine Rack highlights the designer's artistic dexterity. The structured fluidity in both these pieces is unmistakable and Buechin’s reconciliation of creative design with commercial ventures may mean that her innovative designs will be around well into the future.