French heritage brand Maison Louis Drucker has collaborated with ArandaLasch and TRAME to reimagine the iconic café chair, originally designed by the Maison in 1885. Now, the collaboration has reinterpreted this classic design - known for its bentwood frame and woven rattan patterns - by combining traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge digital technology.

Called Enlace, the project merges the algorithmic potential of digital design with the time-honored art of cane weaving. It challenges the notion that technology and craft are in conflict, instead highlighting how generative digital processes can complement and enhance traditional techniques.

Enlace uses the weaving draft format—a simple graphic system that gives clear instructions for creating woven patterns. This project updates the traditional format to produce new designs that both humans and machines can follow.

Instead of focusing on finished products, Enlace provides the basic steps to create different woven items. Each draft includes four parts: threading, treadling, the tie-up pattern, and the final woven design. These drafts guide the weaving process and can also be shared as artistic records.

At Downtown Design Riyadh, 20-23 May, visitors can experience Maison Drucker’s 100+ years of heritage, gain insight into the intricate process of chair-making and interact with the algorithm to generate their own unique designs.

By presenting Enlace at Downtown Design Riyadh, Maison Drucker continues to celebrate its 100+ years of craftsmanship while showcasing how innovation and tradition can coexist, pushing the boundaries of contemporary design.