AleXXander UTTERNORTH --- More on utternorth.com/story-heritage/#story
"Alexxander Bolt was born in Valparaiso in 1909, from an opera singer mother and an architect father fascinated by the genius of Gustave Eiffel he decides to name Alexxander his son in honor of the engineer. XX recalling the structure of the framework Eiffel.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Alexxander Bolt face chaotically several technical training, in turn dismissed or abandoned, certainly too inspired by his mother, his character will prove too creative, too quirky for these engineering schools.
It will become an engineer without a degree refusing standards, doctrines, thereby hampering his career but not his creative genius.
Certainly inspired by its name (Bolt) he dedicates his life a boundless passion to bolt and literally cover his work and projects in all areas.
From an early age he tinkers giants mechanics, built his first steel bridges to neighboring farmers in Chile, tinkers wind, her father was annoyed his side touches everything a little too artistic, his mother sends him Europe.
In 1934 while working as a draftsman for CFAMH (Company ironworks and steelworks of marine and Homécourt) on the Renault Char B1 project, he managed to impose on the French army staff a myriad of bolts shielding. The war is still far away, we imagine that this nod to do smile.
During the world war II, he participated in the construction of floating England harbours = MULBERRY (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulberry_harbour), particularly in the design of bridges "Whale"
At the end of the war, he remained in Europe but decided to move to Poland
he worked for the Shipyards in Gdansk on boilers and other cargo steam.
Meanwhile, we owe him a whole series of steel furniture, some were made in small series, refer to the unit to friends or personality ... others stayed in his sketchbooks. All wear his "bolted" signature.
He could have ended his career with a bang and make history by signing for President Allende the future building of minister of industry, he wanted covered with steel plates bolted unfortunately the kick state of the 11 Sept. 73 will deprive this public order.
He then fled to Venezuela, and ended his days in New York.
This is where we met in 2000, shortly before his death. He will entrust us his sketchbooks, planks "blue print" of which we tiréles furniture we now re-edited and that would bear his signature. "
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« Alexxander UTTERNORTH a traversé le 20° siècle, bardé de ses deux XX, il a bâtit des ponts, construit des cargos, assemblé des grues, dessiné des meubles…
Acteur d’une ère industrielle où le travail bien fait produit des objets pratiques, utiles, simples, il a façonné des matériaux nobles et résistants comme le bois, l’acier, le cuir, des matières qui ont une âme, un touché, des matières qui racontent une histoire.
Une histoire d’atelier, de mains et d’outils, de cambouis et d’huile de coude, de bleus de travail et de noir de fumée, de formes simples au design inaltérable…
Cette entreprise continue aujourd’hui avec une gamme vintage industrielle qui portera son nom : UTTERNORTH , assurant ainsi une passerelle entre son histoire et notre projet. »
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video design = Roland QUELVEN - Art direction = Phil MULLER
