"My great-grandfather built windmills. In his free time, he wove traditional farmhouse chairs. My grand- father was a professional cabinetmaker. His workshop was filled with machines driven by heavy leather belts. Later he opened a small shop and sold his furniture. My father, Henk Vos, became an interior architect and quite literally expanded his father's furniture shop and sold brand name furniture. So I grew up surrounded by classic designers - Charles Eames, Joe Colombo, Martin Visser… - who were such a part of my life, they felt like playmates. I studied industrial design at the Design Academy in Eindhoven (1984-1990), where I met my wife, Claire - a carpet and pattern designer. After my internships at Ingo Maurer's studio in Munich and Kenji Ekuans Industrial Associates in Tokyo, we spent 6 years living and working on the Indonesian island of Java. Claire and I opened a design bureau, and produced wooden and rattan furniture in a small factory. During this time, my fascination with and love of Asian culture and handicrafts grew and deepened. In 1996,we went back home to help build and outfit the Maupertuus interior design store in Groningen. This was my father's magnum opus and - at that time - a truly pioneering concept. Since 2004, I have devoted myself entirely to product design, which I produce together with inter- national manufacturers. We have made our home in Fort Heusden, a beautifully restored walled city in the south of the Netherlands. What's at the heart of my shopkeeper's heritage? Accessibility. I know how important direct contact is. With manufacturers, retailers and consumers. You should just be able to call or mail your designer. After all, even if I reside within the walls of a fortress, I refuse to live in an ivory tower."
Roderick Vos website
