Stefan Lehner
Encyclopedia
Stefan Lehner is a Swiss designer who lives and works in Utrecht
, The Netherlands
. He was born in 1957 in St. Gallen
(Switzerland
) and studied Philosophy, Mathematics, Language and Communication Coach in Enterprises.
From 1978 - 2004 he lived and worked in Fribourg
(Switzerland), and also studied Philosophy, Mathematics, Language and Communication Coach in Enterprises, and was member of the Committee of the Art Laboratory Belluard Bollwerk International.
His career as a designer started in 1986, with the first construction of a metal furniture’s based on recycled materials from the industry. In 1988 he founded the Atelier En-Fer and work with Cristina Lanzos until 1999. In 2004 he transferred the Atelier En-Fer to the old town of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
The peculiar characteristic of his work is that the furniture, objects and interiors are based on used materials and reuse former or hidden functions of the recycled materials. The transformations are made with complex materials (industry), but also with cheep trash (packaging). The metamorphose of the materials should be useful and comfortable, surprising and make smile. His projects bring to the houses the sober beauty of industrial objects but simultaneously take profits from their former function: a spring damps weights (banc, office chair
), a car seat
has a good ergonomics (arm chair, sofa, reception room), a chain tracks and stays flexible (arm chair, bed, couch) and a supermarket trolley rolls and can be pushed together for storage (seat, child car, coat rack). The main topics related to his work are: research recycling and function reuse (studies and constructions re-using functions in new objects), furniture prototypes (authentic materials for personalised use), interior design
, international projects (collaboration with designers and artists in Brazil).
(Fribourg). Serial production and new row materials - For Chesterfield he developed a recycling ashtray and produced 1001 pieces for sponsored trendy restaurants, bars and concert rooms. Later he started to use also other recycled row materials in combination with metals: rubber, wood, glass and animal bones.
Group expositions
Projects for enterprises and artists
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
, The Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. He was born in 1957 in St. Gallen
St. Gallen
St. Gallen is the capital of the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland. It evolved from the hermitage of Saint Gall, founded in the 7th century. Today, it is a large urban agglomeration and represents the center of eastern Switzerland. The town mainly relies on the service sector for its economic...
(Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
) and studied Philosophy, Mathematics, Language and Communication Coach in Enterprises.
From 1978 - 2004 he lived and worked in Fribourg
Fribourg
Fribourg is the capital of the Swiss canton of Fribourg and the district of Sarine. It is located on both sides of the river Saane/Sarine, on the Swiss plateau, and is an important economic, administrative and educational center on the cultural border between German and French Switzerland...
(Switzerland), and also studied Philosophy, Mathematics, Language and Communication Coach in Enterprises, and was member of the Committee of the Art Laboratory Belluard Bollwerk International.
His career as a designer started in 1986, with the first construction of a metal furniture’s based on recycled materials from the industry. In 1988 he founded the Atelier En-Fer and work with Cristina Lanzos until 1999. In 2004 he transferred the Atelier En-Fer to the old town of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
The peculiar characteristic of his work is that the furniture, objects and interiors are based on used materials and reuse former or hidden functions of the recycled materials. The transformations are made with complex materials (industry), but also with cheep trash (packaging). The metamorphose of the materials should be useful and comfortable, surprising and make smile. His projects bring to the houses the sober beauty of industrial objects but simultaneously take profits from their former function: a spring damps weights (banc, office chair
Office chair
An office chair, or desk chair, is a type of chair that is designed for use at a desk in an office. It should be comfortable and adjustable and can swivel 360 degrees.-History:...
), a car seat
Child safety seat
Child safety seats are seats designed specifically to protect children from injury or death during collisions. Automobile manufacturers may integrate child safety seats directly into their vehicle's design...
has a good ergonomics (arm chair, sofa, reception room), a chain tracks and stays flexible (arm chair, bed, couch) and a supermarket trolley rolls and can be pushed together for storage (seat, child car, coat rack). The main topics related to his work are: research recycling and function reuse (studies and constructions re-using functions in new objects), furniture prototypes (authentic materials for personalised use), interior design
Interior design
Interior design describes a group of various yet related projects that involve turning an interior space into an effective setting for the range of human activities are to take place there. An interior designer is someone who conducts such projects...
, international projects (collaboration with designers and artists in Brazil).
Fascination for inventions and industrial materials
As a child he was always drawing and inventing machines and collected a lot of thrown objects. Since this time he has visited scrap yards and factories and collected interesting used materials. Searching for a new life for those objects, he started in 1985 with the construction of furniture prototypes. These principles are also applied for bigger installations: kitchen (Spain, Switzerland), bathroom (Spain), bar (Fribourg), reception (Bern), office (Fribourg), jewellery shop (Zurich), flower shopFloristry
Floristry is the general term used to describe production, commerce and trade in flowers. It encompasses flower care and handling, floral design or flower arranging, merchandising, and display and flower delivery. Wholesale florists sell bulk flowers and related supplies to professionals in the trade...
(Fribourg). Serial production and new row materials - For Chesterfield he developed a recycling ashtray and produced 1001 pieces for sponsored trendy restaurants, bars and concert rooms. Later he started to use also other recycled row materials in combination with metals: rubber, wood, glass and animal bones.
Exhibitions
Personal Expositions- 2006 - Personal Exposition in the Sociale Verzakeringsbank Amstelveen
- 1999 - Designshop „Einzigart“ in Zürich
- 1992 - Forum d’Art Contemporain in Siders
- 1990 - Galerie Delikt in Freiburg
Group expositions
- 2006 - 100%design Rotterdam
- 2006 - Woonbeurs Amsterdam
- 2003 - “Sägerei“ on the Belpberg
- 2002 - “Stock“ in Fribourg
- 2000 - Form Forum Switzerland in Basel
- 1999 - Usine, CAC et EAS in Siders
- 1999 - Form Forum Switzerland in Basel
- 1998 - Usine Vuille in Fribourg
- 1996 - Craft Council Switzerland in Bern
- 1995 - Jung Economic Chamber in Montreux
- 1992 - „Das bessere Produkt“ in Rüschlikon
- 1992 - Neuchâtel Art
Projects for enterprises and artists
- 2006 - Interior Design for Imagemakers Rotterdam
- 2001 - Lighting, tools and showcase for flower shop Hertig in Fribourg
- 2000 - Furnishing for jewellery shop Riekmann in Zürich
- 2000 - Set designScenic designScenic design is the creation of theatrical, as well as film or television scenery. Scenic designers have traditionally come from a variety of artistic backgrounds, but nowadays, generally speaking, they are trained professionals, often with M.F.A...
for “Théatre de l’Ecroux” - 1998 - Video room for Geneva Fair representing the Canton Fribourg
- 1997 - Office design for Cantonal administration
- 1997 - Scene Lighting for Music Club “Temps Moderne“ in Vevey
- 1996 - Sponsor objects for Marlboro and Chesterfield
- 1995 - 1001 ashtrays for Chesterfield
- 1995 - Set design for Dance Performance of “Da Motus!”
- 1993 - Bar for Music Club Fri-Son in Fribourg
- 1992 - Set design for Dance Performance of “Da Motus!”
- 1991 - Reception for Trimedia Bern
Prizes
- 1996 - 1st Prize: Art Competition for new building of the Engineer
- 1989 - 1st and 3rd Prize: Plum’art in Fribourg
- 1987 - Special prize: Tabl’art in Fribourg
- 1986 - 1st Prize: Tabl’art in Fribourg