Alejandro Vidal Ruiz, Ma Xaanab (WORLD 2021)

Country

Mexico

Though common in other cultures, removing one's shoes upon entering the home is a new behavior spurred by the Covid-19 pandemic that requires western culture's households to rethink their home's foyers. As such, aesthetics, not just functionality, are a key consideration to introduce this new furniture into one's home. The simple contemporary lines are heightened with the timeless feel of traditional, high quality Mexican wood. The complex joints provide an additional "Easter egg", bringing a point of difference to this piece. Tzalam is a hardwood obtained from dry forests at the Yucatán Peninsula in the Mayan region of Mexico. Therefore, the decision of naming it Ma Xaanab which means barefoot in Maya.

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