The Creative Journey of a French Furniture Designer in Vietnam

It’s a calm Sunday afternoon in the lovely garden of Zuzu, a hidden cafe, and concept store – right off one of Thao Dien’s main streets. A few guests enjoy their drink under the big shade tree, adjacent to a wonderfully-well preserved old wooden house from Central Vietnam. Around the garden, and inside the building, there’s a curated selection of products made by furniture designer and co-owner Olivier Polmanss.

His most eye-catching designs are the geometrically shaped animal shelves. “That bird there is one of my favorites”, says Olivier when he sits down, “it’s very simple, very pure.” But its apparent simplicity is the result of deep thought and careful planning. “Birds are a part of human nature, they are found all over the world and in many cultures, they play an important role – often as a symbol of freedom or peace.”

Universal
Olivier speaks calmly and chooses his words wisely. He is not a man of exaggerations or superlatives, not as a person and not in his work: “I’m not interested in creating highly conceptual pieces of art that no-one understands. Many designers make their work too complicated, they need too many words to explain it”. His fuss-free designs, on the other hand, are for everyone: “I want to make furniture that people can use and at the same time makes them dream, from a 5-year old girl to 90-year old grandpa”.

Impact
He’s very fond of the more complicated rhino design too, in many ways the exact opposite of the light-footed bird. “The rhino is an ancient, strong and massive beast – it has been on earth since prehistoric times. To me, it represents Africa, where the roots of humanity lie. The rhino is now critically endangered; I don’t like preaching, but I do hope that my designs will inspire people, especially children, to be more responsible citizens”.

Nature
Beside the bird and rhino, Olivier created a dog and an elephant. “Young kids, no matter where they from, are fascinated by animals. Some people might lose that connection later in their life, but the point is that we all once had it.” The natural world is a big source of inspiration for the Olivier: “To me, design is about an emotional connection, not about words. It’s about the vital energy that creates animals, forests, mountains, oceans. It’s so magic, peaceful, so inspiring for us as humans. I’m trying to share that spirit through my creations.”

Resilience
Olivier makes more products: tables, for example, and smaller items like ceramic vases and jars made from cinnamon wood. All with the same distinct, elegant simplicity and a story behind it. The Ki vases, for example, were inspired by the old Japanese saying ‘nanakorobi-yaoki’, meaning ‘falling down seven times, standing up eight’, and the roly-poly dolls that originated from that thought. Olivier: “The Japanese created lucky-charm figurines with a round bottom, they are a bit wobbly, but when you push them down, they always return to their original position. That idea talks to everyone: no matter how hard and difficult life can be, we all have this strong inner energy to get through hard times and rise again”. The designer took away the folkloristic aspects of the figures and created the Ki (which means: soul or tree) vases. “I put bonsai trees in them, since they’re also about vital energy and growth, no matter the bounds. But of course, everyone is free to use the vases as they wish.”

Timeless
Olivier’s goal is to make his products as simple and pure as they can be. “I’m not designing items that last for five years. My dream is to create pieces that people want to keep forever, and that are passed down from generation to generation. That’s why I stay away from trends.” This ideal results in timeless pieces that balance aesthetics and function: “The space on the shelves is quite limited, for example, so you have to think about the most precious things you want to display there. Less is more!”

Contrast
The contemporary designs form an interesting contrast to Zuzu’s historical interior, but Olivier hasn’t designed them specifically for space. “I try to create pieces that look good in many different places: from a big loft in New York, or a traditional house in Japan, to a small house in the French countryside or a traditional Vietnamese house like Zuzu. To me, a well-designed product should fit in many different places and not in just one.”

Method
The designer’s high standards also apply to the making process in which he’s closely involved. “Coming up with a concept is one thing, but knowing how to produce it, is a something completely different. I want to be able to make things on my own or with a few craftsmen in a workshop. That’s what I realized during my studies and especially from working with furniture designers like Piet Hein Eek.” Olivier works with different locally produced materials such as wood, steel, and ceramics from Bat Trang.

Vietnam
Six years ago, after graduating from the Parisian School of Art and Design (ENSAAMA), Olivier found a job in Vietnam and fell in love with the country and its craftsmen: “I arrived in Vietnam by chance, but I was so inspired by the traditional lifestyle and the family workshops, especially in Hanoi, that I decided to stay.” Despite his love for the north, he moved to HCMC. “In Saigon, I find the contrast between the old quarters and the new buildings very interesting. You can feel the country is changing.”

The designer has no plans to leave Vietnam anytime soon, he focuses on further developing his work here: “I would like to expand my collection of small products and I’m looking forward to experimenting with different materials, such as concrete or scrap wood from local factories. And I want to focus more on interior design. To me, designing the space around an object is very exciting too!”

Zuzu offers Olivier Polmanss the perfect location to show his wonderful work to a wide audience. Curious? Go have a look and don’t forget to enjoy the peaceful garden.

Photographer: Brice Godard

Brice Godard (33) is a French filmmaker and photographer, based in Vietnam. He works together with other artists, and for clients such as Paris Match, Unilever, Coca-Cola, T3 Architects and Saigoneer. www.bricegodard.com

Writter: Annigje Jacobs

Annigje Jacobs (34) is a Dutch (copy)writer, based in Saigon. She works all over the region for international brands, ngo’s and magazines. www.annig.je/portfolio

The Furniture Designer: Olivier Polmanss
Address:48A Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien, District 2, HCMC, Vietnam
Phone: (+84) 09 01 12 54 02
Website: www.zuzuconceptstore.com
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday, from 9 am to 6pm

Big Thanks to Olivier, Brice, and Annigje for contributing this awesome article to Maze Vietnam!

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