Long Range Studio Visit
Dolores Mallea + Joe Franc
In this Long Range Studio Visit designers and fabricators Dolores Mallea and Joe Franc discuss recent journeys and projects alongside a shared passion for materiality and a simplicity in the design process. They also share memories of their time at PADA including the music they were listening to in the studios.
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Dolores Mallea runs a small practice based in Buenos Aires called SUR DEL CRUZ.
Born from the desire to be able to build what they were designing, it is a continuous personal search between profession and craft, which counts on the accompanying team, collaborations from colleague studios, and constant training.
The studio is strongly influenced by the shared history of southern America as a plurinational region, as well as in the intuitive construction of everyday domestic and work furniture and its particular aesthetics.
Loli is also part of Taller 475, a woodshop located in a local penitentiary for young men.
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Joe Franc’s practice is centred around using found and surplus material to construct functional furniture and objects. In addition to creating one-off pieces, he is a co-founder of the design studio, Lessons, which imagines objects that exist outside the realms of typical commercial culture, instead preferring to focus on an iterative approach of small-run design experimentations across 3D products, homeware and fashion.
Dolores Mallea Hola Joe, let’s see how this works.
I am off next week on a trip to the north of Argentina where most tree plantations are. We are visiting some greenhouses, mills and manufacturing places for some research work. I’ll send you pictures from the trip. I am guessing you will enjoy it.
In the meantime, here’s a picture from yesterday. I teach in a prison. Here is a small bench the inmates made with hardly any tools, I think they made something simple but beautiful.
Joe Franc Hello Dolores,
Wow sounds like a great trip, is this for a specific research project?
Love the stool and its contextualisation through the photograph. Makes me think of my own work at PADA... I found the parameters of only using certain tools and surplus materials rewarding and this approach has continued to be a thread that runs through my practice.
Shortly after my month at PADA I made work from the waste materials of a furniture manufacturer based in Newcastle upon Tyne. Above is a chair made from mixed aluminium profile offcuts and joined with a hand riveter.
What was your focus at pada and is this something you have continued to experiment with?
Dolores Mallea Yes I thought the same, with your Spoil pieces, right? I really enjoyed them because I figured there had to be something about reducing tools and operations to the minimum.
I often think this kind of austerity brings out a beautiful elegance in simplicity. I am drawn to your work in that way.
I'm currently North visiting a few Eucalyptus plantations and industrial processes. I'm heading toward a national park, but I’ll send pictures, words won’t describe this place. However there’s an old movie that may describe this place a bit.
PADA happened during a turning point for me. Some of the kids that had been working at my studio were leaving after many years, so I felt I needed some time on my own to create.
I did apply with the idea of making rural simple furniture from Portuguese pieces. But once I got there I didn’t feel like doing that.
Tim was ok with me changing and I started working with plants, and doing some research on the fibers that arrived from overseas into what used to be a jute factory and where our studios were placed. This experience was amazing, so calm, so much information.
I never had so much time to make as during the residency. This year I continued doing a lot more research work, so I can say that my time in Barreiro did re-direct my practice.
Do you work on your own?
Joe Franc Wow, The Mission, I used to have a DVD box set with that on it and would watch it all the time. Very jealous you’re experiencing the real thing!!
I also thought PADA was a great time to reflect. At that point I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after the residency, and PADA provided me with the time and space to think about it. I have since started working with my friend Jacob who is an apparel and graphic designer. We have started a design studio together under the banner of Lessons.
We are making small batches of objects, and experimenting with processes and materials and learning through these methods of production. It feels refreshing to not be operating like a typical commercial design practice.
I also teach on the furniture and product design course at Northumbria University and work alongside some very talented designers and lecturers. Do you do any teaching other than at the prison?
I also wanted to ask, have you thought about how you might share your current research?
Dolores Mallea Having a studio that can do multiple things might take a time, (for people to understand what you are about…mostly) but it feels good at the end, since it is also very liberating.
I do most teaching with all the young designers that work at my studio, I always enjoyed sharing knowledge in this way.
In 2021 I started teaching in a male prison. I really enjoy those meetings. Very simple, specific designs they do. No bling bling, and amazing things happen. I think a lot about how knowledge is transmitted, how hands communicate and hold that knowledge within crafts.
Joe Franc I just got back from Sicily - would recommend it! Great antique shops in Palermo, full of all kinds of treasure. I was on the look out for some forgotten Enzo Mari pieces but was unsuccessful.
I saw that you did a carpentry workshop and wondered if the ideas and approach of Enzo Mari Autoprogettazione had inspired it?
The teaching in the prison sounds very rewarding and interesting, are you still regularly visiting? I would love to see their work/ progression…an exhibition in the future perhaps?
This robot came from some offcuts of offcuts that I made for fun and then it’s kind of become a bit of a studio mascot.
Dolores Mallea Hola Joe, I love the robot, it reminded me of the one from Interstellar. (Listening to the soundtrack now)
The windowsill also reminds me of a place I used to live in, some 15 years ago back in Brooklyn, when I first started working with wood. It was a place called Uhuru. I had arrived in NY not really knowing how much I would end up loving the shoplife.
About Enzo… I have always been totally inspired by his work, but not only the pieces, more like the intuitive ability everyone has when building. I am really interested in the simple technology around construction of small everyday pieces.
Working with prisoners is also interesting in this way because scarcity brings about a lot of creativity. I haven’t been able to go for a few weeks, they messed up somehow and have been on lockdown since…
On another subject, how do you get along with clients?
I prefer working with architects or designers rather than the final client. I like spending time at the shop, and not trying to interpret clients… drives me crazy. I’ll end up being a stubborn woodworker that only spends time at the shop….
PS: Here's a musician I discovered while in Barreiro. Maro. Reminds me of PADA
Joe Franc Hi, I just got back from Pitlochry (Scotland). The picture is from an open studio at the start of the year.
At the moment we are predominantly writing our own briefs or making things from materials we have to hand. But working with or for people that understand the process and the time invested in making something is always a bonus.
It’s great that you found a Portuguese artist whilst there, I was probably listening to Steve Cobby, a studio favourite.
Dolores Mallea HOLA JOE
I saw this a few days ago. What is it? old floors?
Spring is almost here and business is catching up. I have a couple new kids at the shop.
I'm working on these pieces. They are some kind of altar for pagan local saints (or inspired by them). The wood is Cancharana (north or Argentina)and Tauari (from Brasil).
Do you have any more trips soon?
Have a good week.
Joe Franc Hello! It’s old gym flooring from a school (I think). It was relaid in a wine bar locally and they had some left over so kindly gave it to me. I made that one in a day (Martino Gamper Style), the tongue and groove is great for quickly knocking together something to sit on.
Love the altars! And the timber, are they for a commission?
Just on my way down to London, it’s the design festival this week. Will keep you posted…Hope you have a good week too!
Dolores Mallea Hola Joe, I have had some trips recently that had me moving around. I was in Uruguay for a design festival, and then flew to Chile to do a workshop on wood. I think it was my first time teaching a class of 20 properly, so it moved around some pieces. Or future plans.
It is always amazing flying over the Andes when visiting Chile.
I also met with teachers from around the world. New ideas and plans, but also, shutting down everyday life in Buenos Aires for a week.
Here are some pictures.
Anyway, heading home tonight, with some new ideas for 2025. I love that about trips, they just clean up my mind so easily.
Joe Franc Hey Dolores,
Thanks for sharing the above pics, it looks amazing. I am glad you found time to make some plans, I am excited to see what’s next, it's been great chatting to you this way.
Dolores Mallea It’s been really nice writing to you, hope to meet some day.
Cambio y fuera!
Thank you to Loli Mallea and Joe Franc for talking about how PADA influenced their next steps and sharing their conversation.
Dolores and Tim were PADA Residents in 2023.
