Andorinha Chair

The concept of the floating backrest emerged from two driving forces: aesthetic lightness and structural ingenuity. From the outset, the design aimed to evoke the weightlessness of a swallow in flight, reflecting the name “Andorinha” (swallow in Portuguese). To translate this into form, it was necessary to challenge conventional plywood molding approaches.During early prototyping, it became clear that typical attachment methods for plywood backrests — brackets, visible screws, or thick joinery — disrupted the visual purity and interrupted the poetic concept. Therefore, the team explored:Hidden integration techniques, embedding steel plates within the molded plywood itself, allowing the backrest to be cantilevered from a minimal support structure without visible fixings.Advanced curvature strategies in the plywood mold design, introducing multidirectional curves. This not only ensured ergonomic fit and back comfort but also gave the piece inherent structural stiffness, enabling the backrest to remain thin and elegant without compromising strength.Material-structure synergy: by treating the plywood not merely as a surface material but as a monocoque structure – where the shape itself carries the loads – we reduced the need for secondary reinforcement. This is similar to aerospace design philosophy, and it was pivotal to achieving the floating effect.Ultimately, the seamless integration between aesthetics and structure arose from a co-evolution of concept and technique. Each iteration of the prototype refined both the visual delicacy and the hidden engineering. The result is a chair that appears impossibly light, with a backrest that seems to float off the seat, while remaining robust enough for daily use in both residential and contract environments.

The name Andorinha (Portuguese for swallow) was not just a poetic inspiration; it became a conceptual and emotional compass guiding every design and engineering decision.Observing the flight of swallows – agile, light, yet incredibly efficient – sparked the desire to create a chair that embodied this sense of aerodynamic lightness, as if it were ready to take off. This shaped two main aspects:Fluid and delicate aestheticsThe chair’s lines were designed to echo the smooth motion of a swallow’s wings and tail, with continuous curves and no heavy volumes. Every transition is intentional, conveying a visual lightness that makes the chair appear to float in space.Engineering grounded in structural efficiencyJust as swallows have hollow bones to reduce weight without losing strength, the chair’s engineering applied similar principles:The use of molded plywood with multidirectional curves provides structural rigidity while allowing for thin, elegant surfaces.The integration of hidden fixings and minimal contact points enables the backrest to float securely without visible heavy supports.The metal frame was designed as a lightweight skeleton, carrying loads efficiently while preserving the aesthetic of weightlessness.Beyond aesthetics and engineering, the swallow also symbolizes hope. The chair was designed during a historically difficult time for Rio Grande do Sul, when a devastating flood impacted over 80% of the state. In Portuguese maritime tradition, swallows were tattooed on sailors as symbols of hope and the certainty of returning home. This meaning became essential to the project, carrying a message of resilience and renewal, just as the state was seeking to rebuild and rise again.In essence, the swallow’s influence went beyond its name and form; it became a project methodology and a symbol of hope, where every decision was filtered through the question: “Does this align with the lightness, efficiency, beauty, and resilience of a swallow in flight?” This approach made it possible to create a chair that is visually and physically lightweight, yet deeply rooted in meaning and strong enough for everyday use in both residential and contract settings.

One of the main unexpected challenges we faced was achieving structural integrity without compromising the thin, elegant curvature that defines the Andorinha Chair. Initially, we experimented with cold molding techniques, embedding the metal insert directly into the plywood layers. However, this approach resulted in a backrest that lacked the necessary strength for extended use – it cracked under load due to insufficient bonding and internal tension distribution.To resolve this, we transitioned to a heated two-stage molding process. First, we molded the front part of the plywood, then embedded the structural metal insert between this and the posterior plywood layer before the final pressing stage. This method required precise alignment and temperature control to ensure the plywood adhered properly without gaps or deformation.Overcoming this obstacle fundamentally influenced the final design by deepening the seat-back curvature, as we realized that a more pronounced curve not only enhanced ergonomics but also redistributed forces more evenly along the embedded structure. This process ultimately reinforced the design concept of the Andorinha as a piece that combines lightness with hidden structural strength, mirroring the swallow’s ability to appear delicate while being remarkably resilient.