RON ARAD (B. 1951) The Armadillo Tea Pavilion

Edition: Unique piece Dimensions: L 6.4 m × W 3.1 m × H 3.7 m Provenance: Direct from studio Exhibited: FIAC 2016 – Tuileries Garden, Louvre Museum, Paris, France Design Miami/Basel, Switzerland, 2016 The Armadillo Tea Pavilion is conceived as a freestanding shell structure designed for both indoor and outdoor use, creating an intimate enclosure, shelter, or contemplative space within a garden, landscape, or expansive interior. In its standard configuration, the Pavilion consists of five moulded shells, each assembled from repeatable, modular components mechanically joined with exposed fixings and structural stiffening brackets. This modular construction allows the canopy to be configured in a variety of arrangements and expanded through the addition of further shells. Whether used as an informal garden enclosure, playroom, pavilion, or place for quiet reflection, the structure is designed to be entirely self-supporting and may be installed as a freestanding element, with additional anchoring where required, particularly for outdoor applications. The shells are available in a range of finishes according to their intended use, from durable PVDF-coated timber composite for outdoor environments to oiled, hardwood-veneered plywood for interior applications. All shell fixings, foot brackets, structural stiffeners, and associated fittings are crafted in hand-patinated brass and bronze. Ron Arad is an internationally renowned Israeli-British designer and architect, celebrated since the 1980s for his experimental and sculptural approach to design. After studying at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem and the Architectural Association in London, he founded the design studio One Off Ltd. in 1981. His work is characterised by an innovative use of materials, bold organic and curved forms, and a distinctive exploration of the boundaries between design, sculpture and architecture. Among his most iconic creations are the Rover Chair (1981), the Well-Tempered Chair (1986), and the Bookworm bookshelf (1993), produced by Kartell. Throughout his career, Arad has collaborated with leading international brands including Vitra, Cassina, Driade, Kartell, Alessi, Artemide and Flos. His architectural projects include the Design Museum Holon in Israel and the Médiacité shopping centre in Liège, Belgium. His work has been exhibited and collected internationally, and his influential contribution to contemporary design has earned him widespread recognition, including his election as a Royal Academician.