Bronze Furniture Design · 2021
Cubus Armchair
- A' Design Award 2021 Bronze Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: ArteNemus
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 15,977
- Verification code EF226ABA03 · Verify this award
About Cubus Armchair
Cubus is an armchair with a matching footstool designed for contemporary interiors. The form is based on a tilted cube in which a second straight cube is nested, and the inner cube defines the seating position. The result is a comfortable seat resting on an apparently unstable base. The structure is made of wood with steel feet and is finished with colored lacquer or with silver leaf. The cushions are made of leather or fabric with a synthetic foam interior, allowing many color combinations. The footstool can also be used on its own.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Cubus armchair is based on a tilted cube in which a second straight cube is nested, which is defining the seating position. The result is a comfortable seating position resting on an apparently unstable base. The structure is made from wood and can be either lacquered or covered in silver leaf. The cushions, which are designed for maximum comfort, are made from leather or fabric with a wide variety of possible color combinations.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions of the Armchair
height: 860mm
width 900mm
Depth: 700mm
Seat height: 420mm
The non tilted basic cube has the following dimensions:
Width: 760mm
Height: 680mm
Depth 700mm
Dimensions of the footstool
Height: 400mm
Width: 580mm
Depth: 400mm - Tags
- Eckhard Beger, ArteNemus, Cubus, Armchair, chair, design chair, contemporary chair, footstool
- Production Technology
- With regard to the construction and manufacturing of the structure, different approaches were assessed: welded aluminum sheet metal, riveted aluminum sheet metal, traditional wood structure. The traditional wood structure was finally chosen for simplicity and cost reasons while the feet are made form steel.
The structure can be finished with colored lacquer or with silver leaf.
The cushions are made from leather or fabric with a synthetic foam interior. - Design Challenge
- The design challenge of this project resided in ensuring the maximum seating space within the structure while keeping its outer dimensions minimal and at the same time maintaining structural integrity of the asymmetric design.
- Project Duration
- The project started in June 2020 in Geneva Switzerland and will finish in Geneva during the 1st. quarter 2021.
- Operation Flow
- Cubus is a contemporary reinterpretation of the classical armchair with a footstool. The emotional interaction with the user however is different as the asymmetric design of Cubus raises interest about the sitting experience. The conception of the cushions is such that the comfort is similar to a classic armchair with a symmetric concept. The footstool can also be used on its own. The people who were presented with the design asked when and where they could see and try out the armchair.
- Research
- While its lines are minimalistic, the Cubus armchair lends itself to a big variety of color combinations.
The analytic research part of the project concentrated on assessing these color, finish and material combinations. Two distinct sets of color clusters materialized for two different potential customer categories. For a majority of female respondents, the combination of a silver structure with contemporary purple, turquoise and light pink was favoured. Fabric, velvet and leather were the favoured materials for the cushions. For a majority of business or male respondents unicolour black, midnight blue or white colour were favoured. - Inspiration
- The cubic outline of the armchair is inspired by minimalist creations from the Bauhaus period such as the F51 by W. Gropius. The tilted appearance of the cubic structure is a contemporaneous design element lending the piece aesthetic tension.
This armchair and the footstool are the first pieces of a furniture interior also composed of a stool, a sofa and a side table. - Image Credits
- #1: Eckhard Beger / Designer
#2: Eckhard Beger / Designer
#3: Eckhard Beger / Designer
#4: Eckhard Beger / Designer
#5: Eckhard Beger / Designer - Patents
- Copyrights belong to Eckhard Beger
Colors of Cubus Armchair
Design Interview about Cubus Armchair
The armchair is inspired by minimalist creations from the Bauhaus period such as the F51 by Walter Gropius. I wanted to add a contemporaneous design element by slanting the armchairs structure while providing a comfortable horizontal seating position.
The armchair is inspired by minimalist creations from the Bauhaus period such as the F51 by Walter Gropius. I wanted to add a contemporaneous design element by slanting the armchairs structure while providing a comfortable horizontal seating position.
The design concept of the armchair lends itself to many variations. Thinking of the armchair, many variations are possible in terms of colors, materials or textures. Beyond the armchair and footrest, I am working on a stool, a sofa and a side table based on the same concept.
I started the project in June 2020 and finished the design during the first quarter 2021.
Designing an armchair had been a goal of mine for quite some time and I have been looking for ideas and concepts during that time. I considered different other concepts but rejected them, as they weren’t original and innovative enough. When the idea of the slanted cube emerged in my mind, it became clear very fast that I wanted to develop this project.
I am currently planning the manufacturing of the armchair with a manufacturing partner. Cubus can be purchased through my company ArteNemus (contact: info@artenemus.com) or through selected decorative arts galleries.
The design and its proportions were entirely done by myself. However, I discussed colors, materials and textures with potential customers and received some valuable ideas from there.
Cubus is a very comfortable armchair and its design allows for a wide variety of materials and colours. The target customers are therefore residential customers for the armchair with the footrest as well as corporate customers for the armchair alone.
The asymmetric appearance and its apparent instability are the primary design elements setting Cubus apart. First reactions for the design were a combination of surprise and interest with the most frequent question being: “where can I see it and try it out?”.
The armchair’s design is based on two nested cubes. Based on the aforementioned, the name Cubus emerged naturally.
After the conceptual idea for Cubus originated in my mind, I started using paper and pencil for its outline of the structure and the cushions.. The detailed proportions were determined with Rhino as a CAD system. Finally I used Blender to determine the choice of materials and colors.
The most unique aspect of Cubus is the asymmetric slanted cubic structure with a horizontal seating position.
I designed Black Cubus on my own. However, I requested input from potential customers regarding colours, materials and textures.
Cubus is based on a traditional wood construction with cushions. There is no use of advanced technologies for its manufacturing.
There was no specific use related analysis done for the armchair. However, the seating position corresponds to traditional armchairs with a height of 42cm.
Given its asymmetric shape, the inner construction of the Cubus structure was given particular attention to allow for a structurally solid but light construction.
I submit those designs I consider good to design competitions for three reasons. Firstly, it allows me to compare my designs to other designers’ creations. Secondly, winning an award and being in a catalogue is good public relations. And finally, it is a great personal satisfaction to win an award.
Whereas prior designs of mine often were based on organic shapes, with inherent complexities regarding their manufacturing, I have evolved towards designs based on generic geometric shapes while striving to retain a conceptual originality.