Jader Almeida肖像｜A portrait of Jader Almeida, courtesy the designer

盒子外的世界系列访谈——家具产品设计师Jader Almeida
Working Out of the Box: Jader Almeida

由专筑网小康，杨帆编译

“盒子外的世界”是一个采访专栏，每期都会展示拥有建筑师背景的不同职业者的历程。

在这一期中，我们采访了来自巴西的家具和产品设计师Jader Almeida。

巴西在现代主义史上占有特殊的地位。巴西利亚作为该国的首都，也许最能地体现现代主义的城市规划原则。像Lino Bo Bardi和Oscar Niemeyer这样有影响力的人物设计的一些最具时代标志性的建筑，将“有机形式”和“区域影响”引入到国际化的建筑语汇中。

Working out of the Box is a series of features presenting architects who have applied their architecture backgrounds to alternative career paths.
In this installment, we're talking with Jader Almeida, a Brazilian furniture and product designer.
Brazil occupies a special place in the history of modernism. Brasília, the federal capital of the country, perhaps best exemplifies modernist principles of urban planning. And influential figures like Lino Bo Bardi and Oscar Niemeyer designed some of the most iconic buildings of the era, introducing organic forms and regional influences into the typically-spare vocabulary of the International Style.


Almeida的扶手椅｜An armchair by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.

如果现代主义--或现代主义美学--在20世纪下半叶逐渐在世界的大部分地区淡出了人们的视线。可是在巴西，它的文化遗产在今天仍然存在。或者至少是像 Jader Almeida这样的设计师，通过产品的设计，来追忆并促进巴西的现代主义美学。

Almeida接受的是传统建筑学教育，尽管他对重返建筑行业保持着兴趣，但他最初是作为一个产品设计师而工作的。他优雅和简约的设计展示着中世纪的美学，同时也涉及到现代的制造和设计过程。

笔者和Almeida互通了几封电子邮件，了解到他的教育背景和目前的工作情况。

If modernism – or its aesthetic – largely faded from popularity during the second half of the 20th century in many parts of the world, in Brazil, its legacy still persists today. Or at least that's the case for designers like Jader Almeida, whose furniture both recalls and furthers the aesthetics of Brazilian modernism.
Originally trained as an architect, Almeida primarily works as a product designer today – although he maintains an interest in returning to the profession. His formally-elegant and minimal designs speak to midcentury aesthetics, but involve contemporary manufacturing and design processes.
I exchanged a few emails with Almeida to learn a bit about his background and current work.


Almeida的扶手椅｜An armchair by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.


Almeida的边桌｜Side tables by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.

你在哪里学的建筑学？

在巴西南部的圣娜市。我取得的学位中包含着丰富的信息。在那个时期，由于技术性的课程、工作积攒的经验和到处旅行等原因，我主要是作为产品设计师而工作的。

在你人生的什么阶段, 你决定追求建筑学？

我从小就常说，我一直想学习或做一些与项目、设计、创造等相关的东西。我对这些东西总是很着迷。

当我还是一个十几岁的孩子的时候，我去了一所培训专业人士的技术学校。在那里我能在实践中学习到操作的流程。这种沉浸感使我自然而然地选择了去取得建筑学的学位。我选择了建筑学是因为建筑学可以为职业提供多种可能性——当然，我对建筑学的着迷也促使我做出这个决定。

Where did you study architecture?
I studied in Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil. My degree was very rich in information. In that period I worked primarily as a product designer because of some technical courses, work experiences and trips.

At what point in your life did you decide to pursue architecture?
I often say since I was a kid. I always wanted to do, study or work with something that was related to projects, design, creation, etc. It was always fascinating to me.
As a teen, I went to a technical school, training professionals. There I could understand how things worked in practice. This immersion led me naturally to the choice of my degree. I chose architecture for the range of possibilities that the profession offers – of course, my fascination with architecture also helped with the decision.


Almeida的衣架｜A coat hanger by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.


Almeida的桌子｜A table by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.

你什么时候决定不再参与建筑学工作呢？为什么呢？

事实上，我从未放弃过。建筑学是可以用不同尺度和形式展现的。在一个时间段内，我的建筑学实践主要集中在商业建筑的室内表现上。

描述一下你现在的职业。

我的时间主要被两个方面所占据。一方面是产品设计（家具，灯饰，小型配件，水龙头等等）和面向商店的室内设计。另一方面是制定产品的卖点和销售战略。我有一个很紧凑的旅行日程，不论是为了调研还是为了拜访客户。

When did you decide to stop pursuing architecture? Why?
Actually, I never stopped. Architecture can be classified by different scales and performances. At this time, my practice in architecture is focused on commercial interior architecture.
Describe your current profession.
I divide my time between product design (furniture, lighting, small accessories, faucets, etc.), interior design for stores, and selling points and commercial strategies. I have an intense travel routine, whether for research or visiting clients.


Almeida的椅子｜A chair by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.


Almeida的自助餐桌｜A buffet by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.

你从建筑学院或建筑学工作中得到了什么技能，促进了你现在事业的成功？

我很早就学习到，所有项目都是工作原理中的一部分。所变化的只是尺度：这可能是一根钢笔，也可能是一座城市。在持续地完成一个个设计之后我学习到了这一点。可以说，这是一个重要的教训并且它最终可以转化为一项技能。

那你有没有重返建筑学的兴趣呢？

当然。

What skills did you gain from architecture school, or working in the architecture industry, that have contributed to your success in your current career?
I learned early on that the entire project is part of a single principle. What changes is the scale: it could be [anything from] a pen to a city. I learned that when there is a consistent basis any design succeeds. So, that was a good lesson learned and it turned into a skill.

Do you have an interest in returning to architecture?
Absolutely.


Almeida的一盏灯｜A lamp by Almeida. Image courtesy the designer.


出处：本文译自archinect.com/，转载请注明出处。