Mechelen Furniture: A Timeless Journey Through 25 Years of VOMO

Mechelen Furniture: Celebrating 25 Years of Furniture Design at Thomas More University of Applied Sciences

The historic building of the former Toy Museum in Mechelen (Belgium) is the setting for a special exhibition this year: Mechelen Furniture. This expo, organized by the Continuing Education Furniture Design (VOMO) of Thomas More University College, marks 25 years of innovative furniture design. The rich tradition of Mechelen furniture art is thus revived, offering visitors a glimpse into the evolution and future of Belgian furniture design.

“We put here about 100 projects ten tone, all furniture designs conceived, created and made in Thomas More Mechelen, which is a unit, interior, design and architecture. Within the unit, in addition to interior design and applied architecture, there is a number of advanced courses” says Hans Le Compte.

A Past of Furniture Tradition in Mechelen

Mechelen has a long history as a furniture city, dating back to the time of Margaret of Austria in the 15th century. Due to the industrial revolution and its successful location on the railroad, the city grew into the beating heart of the Belgian furniture industry in the 19th and 20th centuries. Large furniture factories dominated the streetscape and completed the city famous for its craftsmanship and design. Unfortunately, with the rise of mass production and international furniture chains, this flourishing industry came to an end. Still, the reputation of Mechelen’s furniture survives thanks to such as the furniture design course at Thomas More.

The Expo: Malines Furniture

At the Mechelen Furniture Expo, visitors will get an overview of the past 25 years of furniture design by VOMO. The exhibition is located in the iconic building of Furniture Factories NOVA NV, where furniture used to be built and sold. Following the relocation of the Toy Museum, which functionally occupied this space, the building provided a perfect location for this temporary exhibition.

Visitors can admire works by well-known names, such as Ben Storms, whose designs are appreciated worldwide, and James Van Vossel, a designer who started with limited resources but is on average a limited name in product design.

Then we can also decide for ourselves if we split Belgium or not by means of an‘O Divisible Belgium‘ carpet from 2012, playfully designed by Oskar Vermeylen & Pim Van Eijk. “This was created ten times of the period after the elections but the government came after five hundred and so many days.A scissors is provided so you may cut where you want (obviously not at the expo. The technical aspect is that this carpet is tufted, but the under-leather is made of that nature with a kind of latex so wherever you cut it won’t start fraying. So there is also always a technical aspect to what you do artistically and content to also make that technical” says furniture history teacher Joris Gysen.

External Trustees and Ambassadors

For this festive edition of Mechelen Furniture, VOMO has appointed four external curators, each with a connection to the world of design and culture. Thomas Vanderveken, well-known presenter and program maker, proudly shares his family connection to the Mechelen furniture craft. He selected some of the most talked-about designs of the past quarter century. Together with Katrien Laporte, director of the Design Museum Gent, Dirk Wynants, international designer and founder of Extremis, and former Mechelen resident Peter Bernaerts, they offer a new perspective on Mechelen as a furniture city.

“I have enjoyed making a selection from the works of 25 years of furniture training in Mechelen at VOMO“, says Thomas Vanderveken as one of the curators. “The passion for furniture runs in my family. My grandfather was a Malines furniture maker, and I still have some of his creations in the attic. Also two impressive longcase clocks, which I have carefully preserved. So it is not surprising that I have a special connection with Mechelen’s furniture design.“

Thomas, a design enthusiast himself, is married to an interior designer. “It seems like all the puzzle pieces are falling together,” he laughs. “It is therefore logical that Mechelen Furniture City wants to emphasize the quality of these works. The exhibition is impressive and shows what Mechelen has to offer, both nationally and internationally. We should all be proud of that.“

A Look to the Future

In addition to the past, this exhibition also focuses on the future of furniture design in Mechelen. The furniture design program at Thomas More remains an important part of the Belgian design world. The exhibition features work by current and past students, and each year new lighting designers are given the opportunity to put their vision into practice. As such, the expo serves as a platform to showcase young talent and continue the reputation of Mechelen Furniture.
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Mayor Bart Somers also has his story at the official opening of this furniture museum “I am told that our Mechelen Academy Sculpture was founded to improve the quality of our furniture in Mechelen“. The furniture industry has also largely run by draughtsmen from the two technical schools in the Dijle city. A lot of pieces and especially on the top floor are pieces that can be custom made and thus are unique pieces of which only a few will be made.

Practical information

The Mechelen Furniture exhibition is free to visit Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and runs until December 5, 2024. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to discover the past, present and future of Mechelen furniture design. Admission is free. More info on the website

Conclusion:

Mechelen Furniture celebrates not only 25 years of furniture design at VOMO, but also the rich tradition and future of Mechelen as a furniture city. Visitors are invited to experience a piece of Mechelen history and craftsmanship, and be inspired by the talent and creativity of Belgian designers.

Text and photos Verschueren Eddy