An abandoned factory inspires the Edmonton designer’s latest project.

When Geoffrey Lilge surveyed the remains of a shuttered steel chair factory ravaged by a fire in 2014, he saw an opportunity. “The metal shop was basically still intact,” Lilge says. “It was full of specialty tooling made to manufacture steel tube seating—the medium that essentially launched modern furniture.” From its ashes, the already well-established Edmonton designer of OnOurTable fame formed his next project: Div. 12. The new collection is rooted in an appreciation for modernist design and the beauty of natural materials. “I wanted to create a diverse collection that works in both residential and commercial settings,” says Lilge. “Good design should work anywhere.”

The Portfolio: Div. 12

Catch Div. 12 on display as part of Studio North during this year’s Interior Design Show Vancouver, September 28 through October 1.