Barcelona-based Santa & Cole was founded in 1985 by Javier Nieto Santa, Gabriel Ordeig Cole, and Nina Masó, a trio of design professionals with a curatorial mission. "Our purpose is not to accumulate but rather to choose, not to enjoy thanks to the quantity but rather the quality." They describe themselves as editors rather than manufacturers: "This way we select the best suppliers for each product category." Santa & Cole products are available in the US through Ameico.
Above: The Gandula Barceloneta chair was designed in 1953 by Federico Correa and Alfonso Mila as an ironic tribute to the Barcelona chair by Mies van der Rohe. The chair features a varnished beech wood frame, canvas backrest, and leather seat.
Above: Designed in 1957 by Kazuhide Takahama, the Banco Taka features a solid beech frame with curved beech wood slats.
Above: The Mecedora de la Huerta rocking chair inspired by the work of anonymous craftsmen; made of walnut-stained beech wood with an unbleached natural canvas or striped canvas cover.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on May 28, 2009.