A Romantic Dining Booth from Vintage Rails
Il Treno
Client
Tjep. internal project
Design
Tjep.
Design team
Frank Tjepkema, Agustina Cociffi
Production
Tjep.
Evoking the Orient Express in Modern Intimacy
Imagine slipping into a secluded compartment where the clatter of rails fades into candlelit conversation—a dining booth that transports you to the golden age of train travel. Il Treno, designed by Tjep. in 2013, reimagines the luxurious compartments of the Orient Express as a standalone seating piece for intimate meals, blending nostalgia with contemporary craft to counter the uniformity of global design.
Crafted for Secluded Savoring
Inspired by Tjep.'s earlier work for a Dutch pizzeria, Il Treno features polished wood and leather accents that mimic vintage train interiors, creating a cozy enclave for two or four. Its curved benches and subtle partitions foster privacy, turning any meal into a romantic escape—perfect for homes craving a touch of adventure without leaving the table.
Debuting Amid Milan's Design Vanguard
Unveiled at Ventura Lambrate during Milan Design Week 2013, Il Treno joined Tjep.'s eclectic showcase, including the Hendrick's Collection and DNA-custom furniture, as a bold statement on rediscovering individualism through evocative form.
Tjep.'s Provocative Journey in Everyday Elegance
More than seating, Il Treno embodies Tjep.'s signature irony: fusing historical romance with modern minimalism, much like the emotive layers of Clockwork Love or the self-sufficient visions of Oogst. It invites us to dine not just with food, but with stories of distant horizons.
Traveling Tables, One Compartment at a Time
Compact yet captivating, it proves one booth can reroute routine. Explore more of Tjep.'s narrative-driven designs on Tjep.com, where journeys begin at the table.
Salone del Mobile, Milano 2013
Pictures included of epic presentation at Salone Del Mobile 2013
Visually delicate, yet unyieldingly strong.
The Bronze Age collection showcases meticulously hand-crafted pieces, rooted in traditional techniques that once defined human survival. Each work is a labor-intensive creation, forged from bronze—the material that heralded the dawn of civilization.
“For this project, I sought to counter the technology-driven trends fueled by digital innovations like 3D printing. Bronze, with its inherent value, embodies sustainability: it is either cherished and preserved or melted down and reborn, never discarded. Who knows—some of these pieces might even carry the essence of ancient bronze swords, remelted and reimagined,” says Frank Tjepkema, lead designer and founder of Tjep.
The bronze foundation of this collection evokes stability, strength, and enduring sustainability, as the material can be endlessly recycled. The furniture designs draw on classic forms but are transformed to reflect a modern narrative. The collection boldly engages with contemporary issues, evoking the specter of human-induced crises—such as climate change or nuclear fallout—positioning these pieces as both timeless and urgently relevant.
The result is a series of sculptural works that marry a pure, elegant aesthetic with robust physicality. Do these pieces bear the scars of great calamity, or do they stand as testaments to the enduring power of tradition, like an ancient bronze sword?