Vinay Adjustable Stool in Industrial Huntington Chocolate Bonded Leather Button Tufted Dining Chair (Set of 2)Round Dining Table in Antique Grey Nantucket Pantry in Distressed White Oxford 2-Drawer Wood Buffet in White 3-Shelf 12-Bottle UltraZinc Mini Wine Rack Madison 7-Piece Sand Beige Extendable Dining Set 2-Door Painted MDF Storage Cabinet in Black Ryder Adjustable Stool with Back in Black Frame and Natural SeatBerkshire Counter Stool in Natural/Black Abigail 7-Piece Espresso Wood Dining Kitchen SetBerkshire Bar Stool in Natural/Black Marjorie Beige Linen Button Tufted Dining Chair (Set of 2) Madison 6-Piece Brown Extendable Dining Set Nantucket Wood Pantry in MapleBrown Baluster Leg Bar Stool (Set of 2) Huntington Beige Linen Button Tufted Dining Chair (Set of 2) Loft Series 30 in. Metal Bar Stool in Blue (4-Piece) Sawyer 5-Piece Antique White Mission X Dining Set Madison 5-Piece Sand Beige Counter Height Dining Set
Madison 5-Piece Brown Extendable Dining Set Sawyer 5-Piece Antique Black Mission Back Dining SetMetal Bar Stool in Orange (4-Piece) Madison Sand Beige Dining Chair (Set of 2)Kenneth Cobonpue is a perfect example of the global Filipino. Born and raised in Cebu, he left the country at a young age to study industrial design in New York, subsequently taking up apprenticeships and further studies in Italy and Germany. Now a regular at design shows and entrepreneurial talks, Kenneth travels all over the world to exhibit new work, speak about Southeast Asian design, and find new inspiration. One important source of his creativity is nature. This is evident from his furniture designs, which despite their variety bear similar attributes that together make up his signature style. Simple, light, and natural, Kenneth’s work is the result of innovative combinations between locally sourced materials and handmade production processes. With such a strongly rooted yet global background, it is fitting that Kenneth is serving as creative director for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Welcome Dinner.
His role includes handling the set design for the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, where the dinner will be held, as well as designing souvenir tokens and special chairs for the 21 Economic Leaders. Kenneth shared that rice terraces inspired his vision for the set design. “I wanted to transform the whole space into a huge outdoor garden,” he says. “Part of the challenge was how to transform the coldness and immensity of the arena and turn it into something that’s warm and cozy.” To help achieve this effect, a grassy circular stage will be set up in the middle of the arena, and colorful anahaw leaf-inspired designs will be hung from the ceiling. The Leaders’ chairs will also contribute to this garden-like atmosphere, as they are based on Kenneth’s Yoda chair design, which is inspired by blades of grass. Probably his most iconic and well-known piece, the original Yoda chair does not have armrests or wheels. The ones to be used by the Economic Leaders, however, will have both.
“I designed [this] Yoda chair to swivel because the program was going to happen 360 degrees,” Kenneth said. “It was important for the Leaders to be able to swivel their chair so that they could…follow the program.” Speaking about comfort, he added, “The beauty about that chair is you lean back on the rattan reeds, and the natural tensile strength of the rattan supports your back.” Kenneth calls the souvenir tokens to be given to the Economic Leaders sama-sama, which means together. A visual narrative of the APEC community’s cultural, social, and political diversity, the sculptures represent unity, partnership, and cooperation among the member economies. These limited edition sculptures feature communities of people grouped around island formations representing member economies. Made of brass and finished in yellow gold, pale silver, and warm copper (symbolizing different races), detailed figures are linked to each other as they ascend to the top—“towards the heavens,” as Kenneth says.
Each glass-covered token is housed in a hand-woven metal and buri (palm spine) carrying case with brass handles and clasp. The island formations are made from laser-cut metal sheets and wood veneer. Kenneth shared that the main challenge was to project the image of a global Filipino. “What I always find challenging…[is] to still use natural materials and natural themes, and to make it sophisticated—to show that we are rooted in the past, but we are [also] right in the 21st century.” He added, “I think it’s really important…to showcase the best of who we are and what we are—and we do that with the program, and all the little details that make up the whole welcome dinner.” It was a fun and satisfying project overall, Kenneth affirmed. “I’m very proud of the outcome,” he said. “How I wish everybody could be in that space, because it’s really unique and wonderful.” *All photos featured above with watermarks are courtesy of Kenneth Cobonpue. Designed in 1964, Bumper is a true bucket chair, with a design based on principles of the George Washington swivel chair: a short seat, a nice sweep and good back support.
“Chairs should be short in the seat,” Ward Bennett stated, “because then the feet rest on the floor and pressure is removed.” Like other Bennett designs, comfort is achieved in a deceptively simple, nearly seam‑free design. The arm cap is shaped from one continuous piece of fabric or leather, as are the inner and outer shells. Bumper Side is available with a four‑leg, plated‑metal base in three finishes. Ward Bennett was a pioneer in the use of industrial materials in the home. Rigid molded urethane with foam inserts FR foam over rigid insert View Finishes and Options Geiger was one of the world's first companies to develop water-based wood finishes. Today, Geiger offers a full range of furniture to meet your LEED goals. See how this product can contribute to your environmental goals. Click the logos below to learn more about the Forest Stewardship Council, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council,