„I believe I became a designer, because I was interested in the present, which is the future and the past out of date.“
A legacy of timeless design
Christophe Gevers (1928 – 2007) is recognized as one of Belgium’s most influential designers of the second half of the 20th century. His multifaceted career as an interior architect, product designer and professor at La Cambre (ENSAV) in Brussels left a lasting mark on both public and private sectors across Belgium and France.
Gevers began his professional journey at the renowned De Coene company, known for importing Florence Knoll furniture. His breakthrough came during the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair, where he designed the avant-garde tavern Cap d’Argent. This project revealed his distinctive creative voice and caught the attention of architect Léon Stynen. In the mid-1960s, Gevers created the 300 Series, a complete line of office furniture for Asko, and designed showrooms in Paris (Boulevard Saint-Germain) and Brussels’ historic center. His work is characterized by clean lines, functional elegance and a refined use of materials.
Furniture and lighting design were integral to Gevers’ architectural practice. Many pieces were developed specifically for individual projects, such as the iconic TBA Chair, while others – like the Square Lamp and Wave Lamp – were produced in larger quantities. The Wave Lamp was even manufactured in the United States for over a decade by Koch+Lowy. Numerous prototypes originated in the basement workshop of his home, show his aim of merging craftsmanship and innovation.
Christophe Gevers embodied a design philosophy that fused functionality with poetic clarity. His creations remain timeless, precise and full of character – a legacy that continues to inspire.
„If you try to be fashionable, you're already outdated. Don't listen to what's in fashion, or to others. Search for what you have to say.“
Keeping his heritage alive
Christophe Gevers loved beautiful things, especially if he had been the person who designed them. His daughter Natalie Gevers described her father as someone who never stopped working – and as he worked from home, his family got more than a glimpse into his design process. His love of design shaped his child’s life, as Natalie remembers: “I used to go with him into his workshop, watch him work and help him out. He often gave me the things I wanted – though it wasn’t quite what I had imagined.”
Christophe relished every challenge, and his passion for solving technical problems means his designs still have a unique signature. He may not be as well known as other 20th century designers and architects, but his work is unquestionably comparable with his more famous contemporaries such as Carlo Scarpa, Charlotte Perriand or Josef Hoffmann.
Timeless design lighting
Belgian designer Christophe Gevers embraced modern minimalism: stripped down, well-thought-out and timeless, where everything was designed in harmony and every detail mattered. Luminaires became a key element of his overall designs, and he thought carefully about the range of shapes, materials and colours used in his lighting to create a style which remains highly distinctive.
The contemporary meets the traditional: this lighting collection blends timeless design with vivid and colourful materials, creating perfect harmony.
All about high-quality illumination, focusing in particular on special editions. Designed, produced and sold to be future collectors’ items.
Crafted Belgian elegance
Be.Classics is a beautiful collection in honor of “historical” designers Christophe Gevers, Georges Charles Vanrijk and others. Discover or rediscover the elegant and functional furniture on display in the Quattro Benelux showroom in Hoegaarden. Be.Classics also develops personalized projects.
