MANIERA is currently presenting the first exhibition in its new gallery space Hôtel Danckaert, also known as Villa Dewin, originally designed by Jean-Baptiste Dewin. The opening exhibition showcases 15 original pieces by acclaimed artists and architects who engage in a dialogue with the building, creating a seamless integration. Notable participants include OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen, Richard Venlet, Bijoy Jain / Studio Mumbai, Jonathan Muecke, Sophie Nys, Valérie Mannaerts, Christoph Hefti, Piovenefabi, and Koenraad Dedobbeleer. The synergy between the artwork and the Villa Dewin’s interior evokes a sense of mutual enhancement. Lukas Gchwandtner’s Lazy Pillows, a distinctive sofa and low table installation, serves as a central piece in the Hôtel Danckaert’s dining room.

The steel platform, which houses a sofa draped in off-white canvas, features plush integrated pillows and hand-cut fringes. Belgian artist Valérie Mannaerts also created a steel and rope lamp called Little Vessel for the staircase hall, lending a dramatic presence with its knotted cord base and shadow-casting shade. A collaboration between social designer Stéphane Barbier Bouvet and OFFICE Kersten Geers David Van Severen yielded a rough aluminum kitchen table in the Villa, illuminated by the Post-War Masters pendant lamp. The lamp, inspired by Serge Mouille’s 6 Bras Pivotants, is a commentary on design, art, and exhibition history, constructed from basic stainless steel tubes and plates.

In a prelude to their upcoming partnership with MANIERA, Rooms Studio, the first female-run design studio in Tbilisi, Georgia, introduces a collection reflecting their fluid, intuitive methodology. Designers Nata Janberidze and Keti Toloraia blend Eastern and Western influences, creating a feminist, culturally rich design language. Among the standout pieces is the Historic Bench, handcrafted from reclaimed oak in reference to Georgia’s historic public space objects. The transformed bench, inspired by an unknown author, symbolizes the merging of public and private spaces while preserving a forgotten piece of history.

Photography by Jeroen Verrecht