KASSENA PLAIN

Inspired by the traditional structures in Tiebélé, a village in the south of Burkina Faso, this table is a homage to the vernacular architecture of the Kassena people who settled in the region in the 15th century. The typical Kassena dwellings consist of an oblong-shaped structure with slightly angled walls and flat roofs used to dry cereals. The structures are composed of mud, brick, and stone. Together with international designer Noé Duchauffour Lawrance, the artisans of Maison Intègre have translated the culturally relevant symbol into bronze. Maison Intègre is an Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso-based bronze workshop fostering the long lineage of craft in West Africa. Founded by Ambre Jarno in 2017, Maison Intègre's Burkinabe artisans carry on the lost wax bronze casting technique that has largely remained unchanged since its inception millennia ago. The atelier invites contemporary designers to create individual pieces or cohesive collections. For Maison Intègre’s inaugural editions, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance has created a series of seven sculpture pieces that embody and draw inspiration from the architecture and design of Burkina Faso.