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Javier Gimeno Martínez
José Juan Belda. Objetes i espais (Objects and Spaces)
Universitat Jaume I

The design work of José Juan Belda developed parallel to the consolidation of the profession in the Community of Valencia. Thus, one of the most interesting qualities of this book is that it narrates the evolution of a designer at a time when design studios as we know them today did not exist. Belda studied Arts and Crafts and after coming into contact with Scandinavian design, he opened his first studio in 1974 when the profession was still in its infancy. From that moment on, he entered into joint ventures with other studios until his Valencian adventure came to an end in 1978, and he moved to Madrid to design furniture and environments. After returning to Valencia, he belonged to the legendary group La Nave and, later on, continued his trajectory at Ni. Starting in the Nineties, he focused on interior design.
The book is divided into two sections, dedicated to objects and spaces respectively. It covers his entire creative production from the Seventies to the present, featuring objects created under the auspices of post-modernism or influenced by Italian design of the Eighties, and spatial and architectural concepts that express the constant search for forms and reveal the on-going evolution of his work. It traces a professional arc that is as varied as it is complex, in which one sees the designer adapting his work to dominant tendencies in an absolutely personal manner and emphasising his concern for materials and a deep knowledge of technique. The book sheds light on the work and persona of one of Valencia's most important designers and recalls the origins of contemporary Spanish design. The book is published in Spanish and Catalan.

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