Folding Seasons La Mesa De Café by Aw Siao Ping

Folding Seasons La Mesa De Café by Aw Siao Ping is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2023 A' Design Award de Hierro in Diseño de Mobiliario Competition Category.

HierroMobiliario· 2023

Folding Seasons La Mesa De Café

by Aw Siao Ping

Client: Folding Seasons

A' Design Award de Hierro Winner in Mobiliario Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #145033

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Folding Seasons La Mesa De Café

El concepto se concibe a partir de la espiral de Fibonacci que se da en la naturaleza. Este diseño de espiral tridimensional está elaborado con 4 círculos concéntricos para formar la espiral superior, mientras que la parte inferior es un espejo giratorio. Estos círculos formarían un bucle sin fin parecido al de una estrella en espiral mantenida en suspensión. Las hojas en espiral forman picos y valles ondulados, mientras que estos puntos se calculan meticulosamente para formar soportes para la mesa y la base. 4 picos más altos para sostener la parte superior mientras que los 4 valles posteriores forman las bases. Esto le dio a la escultura una sensación de transparencia, fluidez y voladizo.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Hierro

Folding Seasons La Mesa De Café ha ganado el A' Design Award de Hierro, un reconocimiento prestigioso concedido a buenos diseños que cumplen los requisitos profesionales e industriales que se esperan de creaciones bien diseñadas. Los ganadores de Hierro demuestran gran habilidad, alta especialización, comprensión experta y capacidad creativa de sus creadores. Se espera que Folding Seasons La Mesa De Café sea una creación muy apreciada, admirada y querida, práctica e innovadora. Este diseño ganador del A' Design Award de Hierro integra las mejores prácticas del sector y tiene características técnicas competentes unidas a conocimiento práctico y talento. Folding Seasons La Mesa De Café es respetado por su minuciosidad y está concebido para aportar mejoras en la calidad de vida que ayudan a hacer del mundo un lugar mejor.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: The Folding Seasons is comprises of 4 interlocking rings (4 seasons) fused into one endless line forming a knot, plants the meaning of the knot onto a ever evolving relationship. The circles represent; Natural, Energy, Emotional and Spiritual healing, woven to achieve a holistic balance for wellness and healthy living. The central vase unit gave opportunity for plantae preference and personalization while serving as a locking mechanism for the glass-top and base.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 900mm x Depth 900mm x Height 330-380mm. Wood version base material consisted of compressed aircraft plywood and glass top. Metal version base material consisted of 5mm thick Aluminum alloy and glass top. Both wood and metal versions can be fabricated to different heights desired without affecting structural integrity and form.
Production Technology: The wood structure is consisted of 2 key laser-cut aircraft plywood units joined and fused to form. Each unit is made up of 4 separate 4mm thick plywood and through the process of steam bending, these preformed pieces are glued and pressure shaped to form. As the undulations peak and valley, 8 supporting points are created while 4 highest points become the table base and the other 4 support the glass top above. Therefore, maximum weight distribution and stability is attained. In addition, a small circular cutout at the middle of the crystallized glass top could house a vase to accentuate the theme of living plantae while serving as a locking mechanism to hold both glass top and the base together.

A slimmer aerodynamic look can be attained using 5mm thick aluminum alloy. 2 pieces of identical pre-formed units consisted of the top and bottom member would be weld fused, polished and powder coated to a final finish. Preferred finishes are Chrome, Gun metal finish or White.
Design Challenge: Upon the commencement of conceptualization, Paper craft models were used to study tensile strength, forms and joints. Subsequent studies were done using laser-cut plywood models made to scale (1:10) & (1:5). Small plywood models were steam 'bend' using makeshift cooking utensils done in a kitchen. However, 1:1 mock-ups were the most challenging as steam room enclosure this big is unavailable while the size needed to be larger than 100cm x 70cm. We improvised using economical solar heat repellent foam rolls, taped and sealed to create an air tight steam chamber. 2 units of steam cleaners and an electrical water kettle are used to inject steam into the foam ‘chamber’. After the plywood pieces are heated for approximate 30mins, the ‘chamber’ is torn apart very quickly and the plywood pieces are clamped in place while hot. Upon cooling, the wood pieces took for. Several literation were experimented with improved efficiency and results over time.
The preformed pieces were left to dry before Titebond wood glue was used to assemble and glue the members together. 4 key joints are designed to overlap each other for maximum strength.This product has undergone load-bearing test while the Aluminium alloy version can support a 70kg person standing on it at ease. Further, safety precaution has been built into the design to ensure the glass top do not topple over in the event of an accident. A 60mm circular cut-out has been designed into the glass-top whereby placing a vase unit into would act as a wedge locking both the glass top and base unit together. The plant in the vase would essentially be the ‘key’ and the ‘spiritual soul’, alive, thriving and ever changing.
Inspiration: Changing seasons felt are never abrupt but a gradual transformation of fleeting moments. As the cycle flows and evolves, changes reincarnates and rekindled to its origin. As the saying goes, "Change is the only constant".
Extrapolating the ideology of the 4 cyclical and changeability of seasons, this sculptural form is conceived by merging 4 ellipses and 'stretch morphing' it to create smooth undulating but continuous linear flows.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2021 and finished in June 2022 in Singapore. Further development for mass production is currently in progress. 3 'folds' version and 'tubular' versions are currently being developed as well.
Operation Flow: To ensure glass top do not shift and fall off in the event of a 'knock over' incident, an anchoring glass or metal vase is placed over the 60mm diameter glass top cut-out hole to lock both base unit and glass-top together firmly. This vase would be used as a decorative and complimentary element as well. An optional tabletop design is available whereby the glass-top is etched to resemble that of a water ripple. The table-top is flat while the opposite textured concentric rings or ripples are placed in contact with the table supports. Thus forming a hedge preventing the top from siding off accidentally. The ripple effects added on visual interest specially when light bounces off and creates interesting surface reflections.