essay — 13.05.2026
Rubber, Reconsidered: Atelier Fomenta and the Structural Honesty of Material
As WANC Journal, we focus on works that push the boundaries of design, allow material to tell its own story, and shape aesthetics through function. The Montreal-based collective Atelier Fomenta ; Julia Arvelo, Florence Barnabé, and Muriel Bentolila, transforms their deep curiosity for industrial materials into a structural honesty with their "Rubber Libraries" series.
No Hidden Frame: The Rubber Libraries
Atelier Fomenta's "Rubber Libraries" bookshelves present a bold stance that questions the fundamental principles of design. Composed solely of black rubber sheets and aluminum rivets, these furniture pieces stand on their own through the inherent load-bearing capacity of the rubber itself, without any hidden frames or metal armatures . This approach respects the material's nature, cutting and riveting it like fabric to function as furniture.
Working by hand with local artisans in Montreal since 2022, Julia Arvelo, Florence Barnabé, and Muriel Bentolila create collections for residential and commercial spaces. The trio shares what they call "a constant curiosity towards industrial and accessible materials," focusing on materials like rubber, steel, and aluminum that don't typically make it into homes.
Co-founder Julia Arvelo states, "When it came to this project, we wanted full access to the production process and the ability to fabricate everything in house." She adds, "The Rubber Libraries took over a year to refine from initial concept to final product" . This demonstrates their deep commitment to the material and their desire to control every detail.
Rubber: Like a Textile
Atelier Fomenta treats the rubber sheet like a textile or leather. Julia Arvelo emphasizes this unique perspective, stating, "The way it’s cut or riveted in our Rubber Libraries alludes to button-tufted sofas or the construction of denim garments" . This approach recalls the legacy of designers like Gaetano Pesce, who pushed synthetic materials to do structurally unexpected things. Pesce's "I Feltri" chairs or "Senzafine" series exemplify experimental approaches that allow the material itself to create the form. More recently, Chamar Studio's "Baldric Chair," made from recycled rubber, also offers a similar fashion angle by layering and stitching rubber like garments .
The real challenge with the Rubber Libraries was combining both flexibility and strength. Julia explains, "We were interested in the idea of a flexible structure, how something that appears soft can carry weight and stand on its own." Solving this meant working with rubber’s properties instead of fighting them. "Starting from a flat rubber sheet, we wanted to introduce dimension and volume, working with its inherent properties like softness and reflectivity." This reflectivity creates subtle surface shifts that change how the piece reads in different light .
"The Rubber Libraries bookshelves consist of a black rubber sheet and aluminum rivets, nothing else. No hidden frame, and no metal armature doing the actual work. Just rubber cut and riveted like fabric, holding weight and functioning as furniture."
Fomenta: To Stir Change
The studio's name, Fomenta, founded in 2022, is derived from Latin, meaning "to keep the fire alive" or "to stir change"; this theme is evident in every stage of their work . The studio is driven by a curiosity for industrial, readily available materials such as rubber, steel, and aluminum .
Atelier Fomenta's journey with rubber began almost by accident. The plastic-like appearance of black tape on one of their models led them to explore materials. Experimenting with rubber-backed leather scraps from a leather store near their old studio, the idea of building furniture with this bold yet soft material began to take shape .
The team designs and produces each piece themselves in their studio. They develop their own methods for shaping rubber, borrowing tools and techniques from leatherwork . Rubber sheets are cut, folded, and assembled by hand, then fixed with metal rivets, allowing the material's inherent elasticity and strength to define the structure. They select different types of natural rubber and synthetic neoprene based on their specific qualities, from flexibility to durability. The constraint of using only industrially available colors subtly shapes the collection's visual language .
The studio has garnered global attention by exhibiting their "Rubber" collections at prominent platforms like Milan Design Week and NYCxDESIGN . Notably, they made their European debut at Milan Design Week 2026, presenting at two different locations: Convey with Simple Flair and Palma as part of playinghouse's exhibition . Earlier, their rubber lamps and furniture also stood out at 'Pot-au-feu,' a group exhibition presented by the Quebec collective Ensemble at DesignTO Festival .
photos: Arseni Khamzi
WANC Journal x Atelier Fomenta: A Shared Aesthetic
Atelier Fomenta's respect for material, their ability to transform the industrial into an artistic expression, and their narrative approach to each design perfectly align with WANC Journal's vision. The "structural honesty" in their "Rubber Libraries" series, their perspective on rubber as a "surface interacting with light," and their philosophy of revealing the material's inherent strength are cornerstones of our "Raw Sophistication" aesthetic. This is not merely a design collection but a bold manifesto on the constantly evolving relationship between material, form, and perception. As WANC Journal, we will continue to support and curate such visionary approaches.
Sonraki Yazı
EC8 & La Salle de Jeux: A Collection That Refuses Labels - INSTYLE HOME
Okumaya Devam Et
essay