Silver Furniture Design · 2020
Little Thunder Armchair
- A' Design Award 2020 Silver Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2020
- CLIENT: Briant Sellerie
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 28,285
- Verification code 4C1F2201C7 · Verify this award
About Little Thunder Armchair
Little Thunder is an armchair designed for homes and workplaces. The structure is based on a vault, a half-cylinder shape used in architecture since antiquity. The vault gives the armchair strength while using materials sparingly. A seat and a backrest are added to the basic curved form. The armchair is made of multi-layer wood panels shaped in large moulds. The surface can be lacquered in several colours or covered with walnut veneer. The armchair measures 800 mm in width, 630 mm in depth and 730 mm in height.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- This armchair employs a vault shape, which is one of the most robust structure possible with these materials. It also is highly decorative – examples of this architecture can be found going back to antiquity. Little Thunder’s timeless design means it will be a prized piece for years, isn't it the hallmark of a truly environmentally and social responsible design ?
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width : 800 mm, depth : 630 mm, Height : 730 mm.
- Tags
- Armchair, arch, vault, wood, Little Thunder.
- Production Technology
- After making the foundational decision to adopt an vault structure, the design process progressed rather quickly. The fine-tuning process was meticulous, as we had to account for ergonomic factors. The manufacturing process requires specific skills, including multi-layer wood panels using large moulds. The suggested model is lacquered (with several colour options) or uses walnut wood veneer.
- Design Challenge
- The challenge was to design a furniture item, visually powerful enough to represent the diversification strategy of the company. It had to be manufactured in small series, ideally by one or several craftsmen.
- Project Duration
- We first began designing this armchair about a year and a half ago (in early 2018). After a number of sketches and 3D-printed scale models, we adjusted the shape to best suit ergonomic seating positions.
The study and production of the laminated timber armchair were done in Chambéry (Savoy), France. - Operation Flow
- This armchair is designed to create a visual impact on its environment. Its shapes and geometric curves give it a highly graphical and surprising character. The lines crisscross but never clash, after numerous attempts to find a clean, comfortable result. Several finishes are offered to best match your desired indoor decoration.
Finally, further studies have yielded versions with wider armrests and strengthened, decorative bases. - Research
- This armchair was developed for business and home uses. It will fit perfectly in an office or waiting room setting as well as in a living room or home office.
- Inspiration
- The Little Thunder armchair was born of our desire to create a very geometrically stable seat while using materials rigorously. The idea of a half-cylinder soon became obvious because its structure is so effective. Simply adding a seat and backrest to the basic shape can bring the same strong sensations as a summer thunderstorm.