Repose Ležaljka by John G Williams is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2019 Željezna nagrada A' Design Award in Dizajn Namještaja Competition Category.

ŽeljezoNamještaj· 2019

Repose Ležaljka

by John G Williams

Client: John G Williams Fine Furniture

Željezna nagrada A' Design Award Winner in Namještaj Category

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The Design

About Repose Ležaljka

Repose je ležaljka izrađena od masivnog drveta tvrde vrste. Okvir je od američkog jasena, dok su sjedište i naslon od američkog oraha. Duboko zakrivljeno sjedište formirano je laminiranjem oblikovanih komada drveta sa zakošenim ivicama, što predstavlja ekstremnu verziju metode bačvarenja koja se koristi za izradu bačvi. Unutrašnje krivine su strojno obrađene do glatkoće pomoću posebno prilagođenih alata, dok gornji dijelovi naslona za ruke zadržavaju segmentiranu teksturu. Zadnje noge su savijene parom i pomažu u stabilizaciji naslona za ruke. Spojevi tipa "draw bore tenon" dodatno pojačavaju konstrukciju. Cilj je bio postići udobnost tapacirane stolice koristeći isključivo masivno drvo.

The Recognition

About the Željezna nagrada A' Design Award

Repose Ležaljka je pobjednik Željezne nagrade A' Design Award, prestižnog priznanja koje se dodjeljuje dobrim dizajnima što ispunjavaju profesionalne i industrijske zahtjeve očekivane od dobro dizajniranih kreacija. Željezni pobjednici pokazuju veliku vještinu, visoku specijalizaciju, stručno razumijevanje i kreativne kapacitete svojih stvaralaca. Očekuje se da Repose Ležaljka bude visoko cijenjena, voljena i njegovana kreacija koja je praktična i inovativna. Ovaj dizajn koji je osvojio Željeznu nagradu A' Design Award integrira najbolje industrijske prakse i ima kompetentne tehničke karakteristike povezane sa znanjem i talentom. Repose Ležaljka se poštuje zbog svoje temeljitosti i dizajniran je da pruži poboljšanja kvaliteta života koja pomažu da svijet postane bolje mjesto.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The Repose lounge chair is constructed from solid timber. The curved form is realized by an extreme form of the 'coopering' process - similar to the process used to construct round barrels from staves of timber.
Dimensions & Packaging: W 800, D 800, H 830 mm
Constructed from solid hardwood timber. Frame: American Ash. Seat and Back: American Walnut.
Joints use draw bore tenon joints for extra strength
Tags: Lounge, chair, wooden, artisanal, Danish, timber, art
Production Technology: This chair is not moulded, as some might expect, but is formed from solid timber. The deep sweeping form of the seat is made by laminating various pieces of timber, with angled edges, to form the desired curves. The inside curves are machined into smooth curves with custom made tooling; but the arm uppers retain some of the segmented feel - smooth enough and yet conveying a sense of where the piece came from. The rear legs are steam bent, to retain the overall simplicity, and to attenuate and stabilize the top part of the chair arms. The backrest is also a curved laminated, solid-wood form. It would also be possible to add a thin seat cushion, or perhaps to re-conceive the entire backrest as a custom moulded leather cushion
Design Challenge: The major unknown was how strong the seat section would be in bending - in other words if someone sat on the arms, would they break? It became apparent that the arms would need additional support given the depth of the form, and the inevitable flexibility (despite steps taken to add strength in the manufacturing process). It was found that the support pins at the rear of the arms were sufficient to stabilize the entire form - which was confirmed through trial and error.
Overall the challenge was to create a lounge chair that, despite being solid timber, would be as comfortable as an upholstered equivalent
Research: The method drew heavily on the methods used in earlier designs (eg Zene submitted last year), but took these to extremes to experiment with the art of the possible.
New tooling was developed, in the form of a type of drum sander run between centres on a woodworking lathe, to machine the large concave curves
Inspiration: The inspirational question behind Repose was: if the design language at the core of the Beke and Zene dining ranges were extended to lounge furniture, what would that look like? Could a form be created out of beautiful solid hardwood timber that was profoundly comfortable even though it may be challenging to manufacture? Could some sort of modern shell design be crafted out of solid timber to yield a beautiful striking new design ?
Project Duration: The project was designed and the first prototype built in 4 weeks, starting Dec 2018 and completing in Jan 2019 in Johannesburg South Africa. The design was refined and built in finished materials (Ash and Walnut) over the following 4 weeks.
Operation Flow: The user settles comfortably down into the seat using the armrests.
Various postures are supported sitting comfortably down in the seat.
Getting back out of the seat is very easy, and facilitated by the arms.
Patents: UK IPO design registration: 6053688
Team Members: John G Williams
Image Credits: All images: John G Williams