Stripe club: Dresswall

The principle of modularity – individual units that can potentially be added to ad infinitum – has been welcomed by designers and architects for decades. Furniture or architectural features can be conveniently scaled up or down by simply adding or subtracting elements.

And when identical components can be assembled into larger structures speedily – reducing labour costs – modular construction becomes even more appealing.

This highly flexible approach allows for precision, too: having calculated the exact number of elements needed for a project, designers aren’t then lumbered with superfluous elements – and unnecessary waste.

DresswallStripes, the latest collection by Italian brand Dresswall, meets all these needs.

The word stripes in the plural, embedded in the collection’s name, is highly apt. Dresswall, which specialises in lightweight panels and room dividers, has devised a simple yet flexible system whose basic component – a lightweight aluminium slat – can be multiplied to cover large areas.

DresswallStripes augments and complements the brand’s existing product line – an interdependent family of designs it terms an ‘ecosystem’. This also includes DresswallLight and DresswallSound (incorporating lighting and sound-absorbing elements respectively).

The functionality of DresswallStripes is underlined by the fact that it was developed in response to an architect’s request. ‘We rarely launch products out of nowhere,’ explains Silvia Zoia, Dresswall’s CEO. ‘They originate from a client’s need. In this case, an architect made a seemingly impossible request for an extremely lightweight, versatile wallcovering that could be installed fast – in hours not days – and could integrate lighting and absorb sound. Nothing like this existed on the market, so we developed our system from the ground up.’

Dresswall’s solution incorporates acoustic panels, thermal insulation and backlighting, albeit discreetly – without compromising the system’s streamlined aesthetic.

Placed in parallel to each other, they form a sleek, expansive second skin that hugs walls and ceilings. Here, speed is of the essence, too: the slats can be attached within seconds to bars at right angles to them, using small, effective fixing clips.

The collection is suitable for residential and commercial projects and for indoor and outdoor settings. Thanks to its modular nature, it is economical and low-maintenance since faulty individual slats and panels can be easily replaced or repaired.

DresswallStripes’ slats come with a variety of profiles (visible when seen in cross-section). These are rectangular, triangular, elliptical, semi-circular or finely linear. Yet these nuanced differences can alter the atmosphere of a space, however subtly and subliminally. For example, the elliptical and semi-circular profiles create a softer look than their hard-edged counterparts.

Furthermore, the slats can be placed close together, resulting in a continuous, opaque surface or can be spaced apart to form clear stripes and produce a more transparent effect.

Such versatility is enhanced by the collection’s many finishes. Most of these are powder-coated in neutral hues – white, pale grey, gunmetal grey, black as well as muted greens, browns and blues. By contrast, there are several oxidised finishes, such as polished gold, titanium and satinised bronze, that look theatrical and glamorous, connoting nightclubs, restaurants or chic hotel lobbies. Another option is a warm, natural wood finish (although this is not suitable for outdoors).

DresswallStripes has cultural resonances that perhaps reinforce its appeal. Its modular structure recalls the 1960s minimalist sculptures of Donald Judd and Dan Flavin’s light-based installations, typified by repeated elements and geometric simplicity. DresswallStripes even evokes the futuristic stage set of David Bowie’s iconic Isolar tour of 1976, with its simple backdrop of vertical, fluorescent white strip lights.

DresswallStripe’s myriad permutations offer architects and interior designers the opportunity to put their individual stamp on any project. In line with Dresswall’s philosophy, the collection transforms ‘spaces’ – characterless areas – into ‘places’, namely settings with a strong presence and personality, capable of triggering emotional responses.

DresswallStripes is an agile design that can be swiftly reconfigured, allowing it to adapt to changing needs. Assembled with consummate ease, it can create a minimal, neutral environment or a flamboyant, theatrical one in a matter of hours. Since architects and designers never cease to seek flexible, time-saving solutions, Dresswall’s latest idea is destined to have an enduring appeal.

© Architonic