The guide to spectacular property in and around ... - Quinta Properties

Since then Ferro Design has continued
to build new, exciting and exceptional
pieces, for clients in Portugal and
increasingly abroad. In addition, Beau
himself has recently begun to concentrate
more and more on design. “In design it is
always crucial to know what is happening
with new technology and materials – so
that you know what is possible – or what
might be possible.”
The art of light
Beau has just designed his own new
‘Beau McClellan’ range of lighting for
German lighting giant Brumberg, which
will be launched in April of 2006 at the
Light and Building Fair in Frankfurt. “I met
Johannes Brumberg Jun.. at the Milan
Design Fair about four years ago and we
became good friends and I have built a
very healthy working relationship with
Johannes and his father. It’s a huge
opportunity for a designer to be asked to
design for one of the world leaders, and I
am doubly lucky, because the Brumberg
team and I all seem to be on the
same wave-length.”
Beau McClellan
Ferro Design
Tel: 00351 919 808995
www.ferrodesign.net
In design
everything has its
own language
“I have always had a problem explaining to people
exactly what it is that I do. At the end of the day
what I really feel I am is a creator of things, whether
its sculpture, design, art, music or whatever – I think
all these things come from the same part of the
brain. Some people think that you can’t be good at
so many things, that you should just concentrate on
one. But I find that each creative project informs the
next – everything is interlinked and I think it gives my
work, I hope, a certain freshness and originality.
Nothing is given the chance to stagnate. Some
people may not like what I do, but that’s OK. I create
– then it’s a matter of taste whether people like it or
not. But as a designer, as opposed to a pure artist, so
to speak, I do try to have a good idea of what’s
already out there, and be aware of the limits that are
set by the people who are commissioning me. That’s
very much the approach I take with the Brumberg
work – it’s striking that balance between producing
something original and beautiful and useful, but at the
same time not being so far out there that people are
just not going to understand the forms I use. In
essence, I suppose, functionality needs design and
design needs to be functional. With Brumberg, they
supply me with the technology and I supply them
with aesthetic solutions for the practical use and, of
course, marketing of that technology”.
Functionality needs design
and design needs
to be functional
“I fell into lighting design by being commissioned to
design lighting for large Quinta do Lago houses – there
was just nothing out there big enough to create impact!
I saw the potential but I needed to know more – so I
went to Milan and studied lighting design and the art of
light (and shadow). It can transform the way you live by
the mood, atmosphere and ambience it creates.
Coloured light can also look fantastic if used well – but
used badly it can look catastrophic!”
So what’s next? “I’m designing more and more of my
own lighting range for Brumberg, and you can soon
expect to see some pretty interesting stuff. And I am still
designing one off pieces with Ferro Design. It’s a
tremendous sense of relief and achievement when we
finish a one-off piece and complete the installation but
now I can add my knowledge and understanding of light;
it adds another dimension to whatever I do”
But it’s not just about me, it’s the whole of the Ferro
Design team – I am a lucky man to have such talented
and supportive people around me.”
Quinta Properties
20 Photo: Vasco Celio
21