Classic cars and fine craftsmanship have a lot in common, with the two disciplines crossing over frequently. Designer Kenneth Cobonpue has made a living creating beautiful furniture and cars. The Philippines born artist is known for his avant garde pieces made out of sustainable materials.
Cobonpue grew up in a family of furniture makers. He began his career as an apprentice in a leather and wood workshop in Florence and then went on to study in New York and Germany. These experiences gave him the tools he needed to craft memorable creations.
A design that put him on the map was the Phoenix concept car, a vehicle made out of bamboo and rattan. The body had the shape of a tree leaf, while the spine merged all the components together. The biodegradable car won many accolades, drawing the attention of brands like Audi and Mercedes-Benz. In 2007, Time magazine called Cobonpue ‘Rattan’s First Virtuoso.’
In addition to his furniture work, Cobonpue restores classic cars. He works alongside various craftsmen, including painters, upholsterers and welders. His workshop is located in Cebu City. According to Cobonpue “I’ve been here for over 23 years already, and there’s been a lot of development recently including the nearby Ayala Mall, making this property very valuable these days. This is also where I restore my own classic cars, and also for my friends and customers. It takes the same skill set and expertise in car restoration, so I started doing this a few years ago.”
Cobonpue is a member of the Cebu-based classic car group called Performance And Classic Enthusiasts (PACE). The group organises the ‘Tour de Cebu’ run, which is loosely based on the famous Mille Miglia Race.
Cobonpue is also an enthusiastic classic car collector. He has a passion for European models like an Alfa Romeo 1750 GTO, Ferrari Dino and Porsche 356. British classics are also featured in his collection, include a Jaguar XK120 and Jaguar E-Type.
Cars connect people from different cultures, and Cobonpue’s story is an example of how important the connections are.
