Ariane Van Dievoet Explores New Ways To Detach

When working with raw materials like wood and natural stone, even discarded fragments carry a quiet beauty. Instead of sending them to the landfill, the Belgian designer Ariane van Dievoet explores how these remains can take center stage in her work. The result is a series of unique pieces that prove that quality materials can shine, even in a second life.

A wooden chair with four legs and a light-colored square seat is placed on a wooden floor against a plain gray wall

VEZE side table \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

There are several challenges that come with working with discarded or reclaimed materials. The first is repeatability. Since the fragments vary in size, shape and color, the final design is almost impossible to replicate. The second is quality. Many fragments, especially those originating from demolition sites, come with flaws. Rather than seeing these questions as limitations, van Dievoet embraces them, allowing the limitations to shape the work. “Creating from materials that have already been used forces me to consider their shape, thickness and eventual breakage,” she explains. “These limitations are the driving force and inspiration in my creative process.”

A small wooden chair with a square marble seat and four legs, placed on a wooden floor against a plain background

VEZE side table \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

She CONNECTIONS the collection directly takes on the challenge of reproducibility. Rather than aiming for uniformity, van Dievoet builds continuity through the frame, made from oak sourced from Brussels’ Sonian Forest, while reclaimed stone ensures that each piece is unique. Using a precision waterjet cutter, she carves out cutouts that allow the woodwork to pass through the stone; the weight of the stone locks everything into place. The result is a system that supports a cohesive product line while celebrating the uniqueness of each refurbished piece.

Close-up of a light, rectangular marble slab with rounded corners and two semicircular wooden inserts near the edges

VEZE side table \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A wooden rack with four vertical supports and five rectangular shelves in various colors, standing on a wooden floor against a plain wall

Shelf connectors \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

Close-up of a wooden shelf supported by two vertical wooden posts, with a natural, reddish-brown surface and a textured edge

LINKS shelves \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A round wooden plug is placed in the surface of a reddish-brown wooden plate

LINKS shelves \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A wooden shelf with stone surfaces holds three upright books and two large stones placed behind them, all against a plain light colored background

CONNECTIONS shelf, Collected Matter bookends \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A shelf with three books standing upright between two stone bookends, framed by vertical wooden supports

Collected Matter bookends \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

The collections Collected Matter and Reflected Matter deal with the issue of lack. In Collected Mattermaterials collected from manufacturing or demolition sites are given a second life as functional objects in their raw state. Each piece – whether it’s a bookend, box or trinket tray – becomes the stage for its new owner’s own collection of objects.

A geometric sculpture composed of two stone slabs on either side of a vertically ribbed, rectangular central section, set against a plain white background

Collected Matter bookends \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A large stone slab and a round glass slab are placed vertically together, supported by two wooden stands, against a neutral background

Echo Mirror \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

Instead of covering up imperfections, Reflected Matter the series celebrates them through mirrors. Here, fragments of natural stone hold the mirrors upright, and the reflective surface draws attention to every edge, crevice and contour of the supporting stone. The result is a dialogue between fragment and reflection, flaw and completion.

A rough, triangular stone is placed in front of a circular mirror on a wooden plinth, casting a partial reflection on a neutral background

Echo Mirror \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

Close-up of the jagged edge of a piece of brownish rock with a visible crack running along its surface

Echo Mirror \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A tall, arched mirror with a sculpted stone plinth stands against a dark brown wall on a light colored floor

Tetis Mirror \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A tall, arched mirror with a stone base and an irregular, jagged bottom edge sits against a dark wall, reflecting the concrete pillar and ceiling

Tetis Mirror \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A broken mirror rests on a concrete pillar in a modern building with geometric patterns on the ceiling and a curved staircase

Tetis Mirror \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A small wooden bench with a cracked, dark gray marble top stands on the light mottled floor

Rift Coffee Table \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

In the end, Rift coffee table has a crack at turning a break into beauty. Inspired by the surface of her Rift console and the structure of a Dominican bench, van Divoet transforms the central crack into a feature of the table. The divided table top is united by a precise geometric cut, creating a balance between disruption and cohesion. Made from reclaimed oak paneling and crafted using digital milling, the light, playful structure fits together seamlessly – a surprising revelation that even a crack can be the foundation of something whole.

Close-up of cracked gray stone slab with visible white veins and rough texture

Rift Coffee Table \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

The modern, empty interior features a curved staircase, concrete walls, a round table in the center and geometric ceiling lights above

Rift Coffee Table \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

Fragments, flaws and cracks are often considered ugly, but van Dievoet proves otherwise. Instead of discarding these parts, she transforms them into the driving force behind her practice, pushing her to create designs that are both inspiring and sustainable.

A wooden bench with a stone top is placed under a ceiling light in an otherwise dark, empty room with concrete floors and walls

Rift Coffee Table \\\ Photo: Oksana Tkachuk

A woman with long dark hair, wearing a green shirt and jeans, is standing and smiling in a bright, minimalistic outdoor environment with white walls and stairs

Ariane van Dievoet \\\ Photo: Eline Villaert

Ariana van Dievoet’s work can be seen at the Curated design fair, at the Forward furniture exhibition at Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven (October 18-26, 2025) and at the Caress B Collective exhibition during the MAD Parcours in Brussels in November. To learn more about her practice, visit arianevandievoet.com.

Photo courtesy of Ariana van Dievoet.

As editor-in-chief, Wei Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She’s probably sharing what she discovered Instagram stories. You can also find it at vitraniang.com.

Ariane van Dievoet explores new ways to detach

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