Showtime Collection

The Showtime collection (2006) by Jaime Hayon for BD Barcelona is a house collection built upon the central concept of contrast, specifically exploring the tension between exterior and interior. This is immediately evident in the unusual starting point: a garden chair that transforms into an indoor piece by applying different inner materials. Similarly, the armchairs (“poltronas”) suit both settings; the exterior versions are plain, while the interior ones sport a glossy outer shell. Hayon harmoniously combines organic forms and classical details, elements not typically matched, finding an elegant coexistence.

The material selection reinforces this contrast, pairing what are often considered cold or impersonal materials with warm ones. For example, roto-molded plastic for the chair’s outer part is set against a warm, leather-like capitoné (tufted) finish for the inner section. This innovative palette combines the natural, like wood, with high-tech processes such as roto-molding and semi-elaborated ceramic techniques that result in high-gloss, colorful finishes, making it a very “different” collection. The designs draw inspiration from varied sources, including old 1960s ads, with a major influence being a piece of old wicker furniture Hayon saw in a painting by the 17th-century Flemish artist Jacob Jordaens, which inspired the shape of the collection’s first item.