Dowel Jones and RIES present Volta in Kvadrat Upholstery

Bridging international design with a longstanding commitment to local manufacturing, Melbourne-based brand Dowel Jones has released their first collaboration with Argentinian studio, RIES. The collection, titled Volta, includes a dining chair, bar chair, bar stool, low stool, and coffee table, with all seating pieces upholstered in Kvadrat fabric.

The initial launch featured a black and brass frame and warm Kvadrat Melange Nap autumnal colours. The collection will be extended to include a wider range of textile options from Kvadrat, with several timber options, and as always, Dowel Jones’ large selection of colours.

Founders of RIES (Marcos Altgelt and Tasio Picollo) and Dowel Jones (Dale Hardiman and Adam Lynch) first met in New York in 2018. Both residing in the southern hemisphere and sharing a profound interest in local production, the studios joined forces, borrowing equal parts RIES and Dowel Jones to create a range that is both meaningful and visually captivating.

The starting point for the Volta collection can be traced back to a RIES project titled Diez Sillas (Ten Chairs), whereby RIES designed and made 10 chairs from waste materials in their workshop over two days. Adapting detailing and form from the 6th Chair from the Diez Sillas project, and utilising an iconic Dowel Jones tubular frame as a base, Volta is a balanced representation of each studio’s signature styles. 

RIES and Dowel Jones teamed up with Australian stylist and art director Natalie Turnbull and photographer Victoria Zschommler to photograph the collection inside the iconic Victorian-era Labassa Mansion.

Volta is the first collaboration between RIES and Dowel Jones, with future collaborations planned.

Photo credits

Photography by Victoria Schommler
Styling by Natalie Turnbull