Etienne Feijns

A new chapter, new Journey, a new location, a new gallery. We are proud to announce the grand opening of our new gallery in Knokke on April 25th, 2026. A carefully curated space dedicated to contemporary art, design, and cultural exchange. Bringing together emerging and established artists in one of Belgium’s most iconic coastal collectors destinations. More details to follow. Press & media inquiries welcome. #GalleryOpening #Knokke #ArtGallery #OpeningNight #massmoderndesign

Meet Etienne Feijns of @MassModernDesign (NL) who brings a distinctive vision to its debut at BRAFA: design as heritage, history, and human ingenuity. Specialising in furniture and objects that changed the course of design history, the gallery champions authenticity, originality, and cultural impact. Every piece carries a lineage — a story that resonates far beyond its form. For BRAFA 2026, MassModernDesign presents a curated encounter between Brazilian modernism and Italian postwar design. At its heart stand remarkable works by José Zanine Caldas, Jorge Zalszupin, Joaquim Tenreiro, Carlo Hauner and others — designers who shaped Brazil’s mid-century identity through tactile materials, organic lines, and a deep respect for craftsmanship. Their warm, expressive modernism is set in counterpoint to the poetic clarity of Italian lighting by Max Ingrand and Angelo Lelii, whose brass, crystal, and opaline glass compositions defined a new era of sculptural luminosity. The installation is further enriched with works by Dedalo Montali and Christoph Bollinger, bridging art and design in a dialogue of gesture, rhythm, and material intelligence. In this interview, MassModernDesign reflects on their philosophy, their meticulous approach to sourcing, and the significance of joining BRAFA for the first time. A debut years in the making — and a promise to bring nothing less than the very best. 📍 BRAFA Art Fair 2026 🗓️ 25 January – 1 February | Brussels Expo 🎟️ Tickets & info: brafa.art > link in bio BRAFA Principal Sponsor: Delen Private Bank Video by NOOT - #brafaartfair #brafa2026 #designinteriors #designhome #designfurniture #collectibledesign

Discover the Heart of MassModernDesign. Step inside our world — where history meets high end design. From iconic mid-century treasures to modern craftsmanship, this is where timeless style lives and breathes. Showroom | Gallery | Workshop | Photo Studio. Every space, a story. Every piece, a legacy. We’re not just curators of the past — we’re shaping the future of design. Whether you’re a collector, creative, or looking to join a passionate team, this is your invitation to connect. Follow our journey. Let’s create something extraordinary. #MassModernDesign #MidCenturyModern #DesignExcellence #InteriorInspo #NowHiring #JoinUs #DesignLovers #midcenturymodern #collectibledesign #historicaldesign

As evening falls over Knokke, the windows of our gallery begin to transform. Illuminated architectural fragments, rare furniture, and industrial forms by Jean Prouvé emerge from the darkness almost like small urban stages, bringing a quiet rhythm and atmosphere to the street. Our exhibition “Jean Prouvé: Elements of Architecture” is now almost halfway through, and the response so far has been incredible. The presentation explores Prouvé’s unique vision where architecture, engineering, and furniture become one coherent language. From monumental façade elements and industrial shutters to iconic seating and rare structural components, the exhibition reveals the timeless clarity and honesty that define Prouvé’s work. Especially during the evening hours, the gallery takes on another dimension. The large open windows allow the exhibition to interact directly with the street, turning the space into a glowing architectural composition visible from outside. In a place like Knokke, where evening walks through the galleries and boutiques are part of the atmosphere of the city itself, the exhibition truly comes alive after sunset. If you are visiting Knokke this season, don’t miss the opportunity to experience this rare solo presentation dedicated to one of the most influential designers and constructors of the 20th century. MMD Knokke Zeedijk-Het Zoute 720 8300 Knokke, Belgium Open Thursday to Monday 11:00 – 18:00 #JeanProuve #Knokke #MassModernDesign #jeanprouvé #DesignExhibition

Why does a chair designed nearly 90 years ago still feel more modern than most contemporary designs today? Jean Prouvé’s iconic ‘Metropole 306’ proves that true design is not about decoration, but about understanding structure, material, and function at their purest level. The oversized folded steel rear legs were engineered to absorb the chair’s weight and pressure exactly where needed, creating one of the most recognizable silhouettes in 20th century furniture history. This particular upholstered version, produced by Steph Simon in the 1970s, adds an entirely different dimension to the design. The original red leatherette softens the industrial character while emphasizing the chair’s architectural lines. Combined with the black lacquered frame and exposed aluminum fixings, every detail reflects Prouvé’s uncompromising approach to honest construction. What makes this example especially desirable is the earlier profile of the rear supports and the deeply shaped seat, offering a level of comfort rarely associated with purely functional industrial furniture. The beautiful original patina only reinforces its authenticity and presence. More than a chair, the Metropole 306 remains one of the clearest expressions of engineering becoming art. #JeanProuve #StephSimon #MidCenturyModern #jeanprouvè #massmoderndesign

A lamp or a glowing piece of architecture? The rare MT table lamp by Giancarlo Mattioli for Sirrah transforms completely once illuminated. What appears as a minimal white dome during the day suddenly unfolds into a radiant structure of light and shadow, almost like a futuristic pavilion or an abstract jellyfish floating in space. Designed in Italy in 1969, the composition balances softness and precision at the same time. The layered aluminum base filters the light into perfectly rhythmical beams, projecting an architectural halo around the object. It is one of those rare designs where the atmosphere it creates becomes just as important as the object itself. More than a table lamp, the MT feels like a small kinetic landscape of light. #giancarlomattioli #sirrah #italiandesign #collectibledesign #massmoderndesign

Movement, balance, rhythm. More machine than sculpture, more architecture than object. This monumental one-of-a-kind kinetic wall sculpture by Christoph Bollinger transforms slowly and endlessly through motion, tension, and gravity. Designed and handmade in Germany in 1974, the piece moves with an almost hypnotic precision, like a mechanical solar system measuring time through movement instead of numbers. The untouched patina, delicate copper construction, and engineered balance make this work feel suspended somewhere between art, physics, and architecture. Even standing still, it completely dominates the wall. Would you consider this art, sculpture, or engineering? #ChristophBollinger #KineticArt #MidCenturyModern #SculpturalDesign #MassModernDesign

Now the sun finally arrived in the Netherlands, we find ourselves looking back at Miami, where architecture, light, and culture unfold in an entirely different rhythm. Miami architure part 2. Looking back at our walks through Miami Beach during Design Miami, we continued tracing the city’s layered architectural language,moving between sacred modernism, postwar optimism, and contemporary cultural landmarks. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Nearby, we encountered the Cuban Hebrew Congregation of Miami, also known as Temple Menorah. Designed by Cuban architect Oscar Sklar and built in the 1984, the synagogue reflects a restrained modernist vocabulary, combining stone, simple massing, and symbolic detailing to serve a growing postwar community. Its presence speaks quietly of migration, identity, and Miami’s multicultural architectural history. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Our route then shifted toward Miami’s civic and cultural axis, where contemporary architecture takes the lead. The New World Center in Miami Beach, the home of the New World Symphony. The building was designed by Frank Gehry / Gehry Partners and opened in 2011 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ In front of the Bass museum stands Mermaid by Roy Lichtenstein. Designed in 1979, installed in 1992, the playful yet monumental sculpture introduces a bold Pop Art gesture into the public realm. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Finally we saw, far away from the usual roads, The Betsy Orb, a temporary public artwork designed by Snarkitecture in 2017. Suspended above a narrow passage next to The Betsy Hotel on Ocean Drive, the Orb is a large, smooth white sphere that appears to float between the surrounding Art Deco buildings. Conceived as part of Miami Beach’s ongoing engagement with public art, the piece plays with scale, perception, and surprise, transforming an everyday alley into an immersive spatial moment. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ These moments, moving from sacred interiors to open plazas, from mid-century modernism to contemporary expression,became another reminder of Miami as a city where architecture and art continuously intersect, shaped by light, culture, and time. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #designmiami #miamibeach #modernarchitecture #americanarchitecture #massmoderndesign

Finally a moment to reflect. Last weekend we opened Jean Prouvé; Elements of Architecture in our new seaside gallery in Knokke, surrounded by collectors, architects, and friends of the gallery. This reel captures the atmosphere of the opening, but also the exhibition in its full rhythm as it continues to unfold. Capturing our new gallery by the sea, lit by beams of sunlight. Prouvé’s work reveals itself differently in movement. Not as static objects, but as systems of thought, of construction, of architecture translated into form. Seeing these elements together, in dialogue with space and people, is where their true presence emerges. We would like to sincerely thank everyone who joined us for the opening and made it such a special moment. The exhibition remains on view until May 25 Open Thursday through Monday, 11:00 – 18:00 MMD Seaside Gallery Zeedijk-Het Zoute 720 8300 Knokke-Heist, Belgium #jeanprouve #jeanprouvé #collectibledesign #designgallery #massmoderndesign

After an exciting opening evening, our exhibition is now open to the public. Jean Prouvé; Elements of Architecture A rare opportunity to experience the architectural vision of one of the most important designers of the 20th century. From façade elements to structural forms and technical drawings, this exhibition reveals how Prouvé dissolved the boundary between building and object. On view until May 25 in our new seaside gallery in Knokke. Thursday – Monday 11:00 – 18:00 MMD Knokke Zeedijk-Het Zoute 720 8300 Knokke-Heist Belgium A must-see for collectors, architects and design enthusiasts. #jeanprouvé #jeanprouve #architecturaldesign #massmoderndesign #knokke

For our upcoming gallery opening and exhibition in Knokke, Jean Prouvé: Elements of Architecture, we bring to life one of Prouvé’s most poetic ideas, where structure, light and movement become one. In this reel, a rare brise-soleil unfolds and closes like an accordion, revealing its rhythmic logic, a quiet choreography of aluminium and air. Designed as a functional response to sun and climate, yet executed with the precision of an engineer and the sensitivity of an architect, this element transcends its purpose. It is not just a façade component, but a dynamic expression of Prouvé’s vision, where every movement is intentional, every line structural. Opening tomorrow, on invitation at our MMD seaside gallery in Knokke. MMD Seaside gallery Knokke Zeedijk-Het Zoute 720 8300 Knokke-Heist #jeanprouve #ateliersjeanprouvé #jeanprouvé #collectibledesign #massmoderndesign

What if a cabinet isn’t just storage… but the main piece? This exceptionally rare showcase by Afra & Tobia Scarpa for Maxalto, 1975, is one of those moments where craftsmanship becomes the story. The walnut frame reads almost like a constructed puzzle, every joint deliberate, every line resolved with quiet precision. It’s the kind of object that immediately reveals the time, cost, and skill behind its making. Then the surprise. Smoked glass all around keeps it light, almost architectural, while inside, three shelves in blue, grey, and amber shift the entire perception. Objects placed within don’t just sit, they interact with color, depth, and reflection. The cabinet starts to behave more like a display of light than furniture. Details remain understated but exact. A leather pull, subtle brass accents, and that unmistakable Italian balance between material richness and restraint. A piece that doesn’t shout, but completely takes over a space once you see it. #afrascarpa #tobiascarpa #afratobiascarpa #italianmodern #massmoderndesign