Beke Keukenbarkruk by John G Williams is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2019 A' Design Award yn Izer in Meubelûntwerp Competition Category.
IzerMeubels· 2019
Beke Keukenbarkruk
Client: John G Williams Fine Furniture
A' Design Award yn Izer Winner in Meubels Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #71063The Design
About Beke Keukenbarkruk
Beke is in keukenbarkruk ûntworpen foar gebrûk by in keukenwerkblêd of moarnsiterstafel. De namme Beke betsjut frede en ferbûn wêze mei. De geometry fan de sit, rêchleuning en fuotstipe is ôfstimd op komfort by langduorjend gebrûk. De sit is in spesjaal makke multiplex laminaat ôfwurke mei notendop-fineer. De efterste poaten binne yn twa dielen stoomboage en dêrnei laminearre foar duorsume foarmfêstens op lange termyn. De rêchleuning is opboud út foarmjûne dwylen, lykas by kûperswurk. It strakke esdoarnhouten (esk) frame is foarme om de stoel in licht en rêstich uterlik te jaan.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award yn Izer
Beke Keukenbarkruk is in winner fan de A' Design Award yn Izer, in prestisjeuze erkenning foar goede ûntwerpen dy't foldogge oan de profesjonele en yndustriële easken dy't ferwachte wurde fan goed ûntwurpen skeppings. Izerwinners litte grutte feardigens, hege spesjalisaasje, deskundich begryp en kreatyf fermogen fan har makkers sjen. Fan Beke Keukenbarkruk wurdt ferwachte dat it in tige heech achte, bewûndere en dierbere skepping is dy't praktysk en ynnovatyf is. Dit winnende ûntwerp fan de A' Design Award yn Izer yntegrearret de bêste praktiken fan de sektor en hat feardige technyske skaaimerken ferbûn mei kennis en talint. Beke Keukenbarkruk wurdt respektearre foar syn yngeandens en is ûntwurpen om ferbetteringen fan de kwaliteit fan it libben te leverjen dy't helpe de wrâld ta in bettere plak te meitsjen.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- An elegant and stable chair for use at a kitchen bar or counter, in the same range at the Beke dining chair. The chair is designed to be comfortable for extended periods of use, and the geometry of seat, backrest, and footrest have been tailored with this in mind.
The seat is a unique custom plywood laminate finished in walnut veneer to an architectural form.
The rear legs are formed in two parts: first by steam bending the graceful form, and then laminating for long term dimensional stability.
The rails are profiled in an attempt to reinforce the overall lightness and sense of peace, and to support the cantilevered seat over the front rail. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Overall dimensions: 1080mm high x 470mm wide x 670mm deep
Seat dimension: 470mm wide x 440mm deep
Backrest dimensions: 540mm wide x 200 mm high
Seat angle: 3 degrees
Backrest angle: 18 degrees
Included angle: 15 degrees
Seat height: 660 mm
Backrest height: 1025mm
Weight: 7.0kg - Tags
- Beke, kitchen bar chair, south africa, hardwood, curved, danish modern, minimalist, ash, walnut, gracefu
- Production Technology
- The chair design incorporates a number of innovative components: custom plywood seat; steam bent rear legs; coopered backrest; and shaped rails:
Custom plywood seat. The seat is formed from 5 plies, which are then finished top and bottom with a walnut veneer. The profile is a custom design that is used to build a purpose made forming press to generate finished seat forms. T nuts are encapsulated in the ply, so that the seat can be securely bolted to the frame with no interruption at all of the top surface of the seat.
Steam bent rear legs. The rear legs are steam bent in two pieces; cooled and stabilized; and then laminated to generate the final leg forms. Regular lamination was discarded on account of the excessive glue joints implied; and steam bending alone risked dimensional instability over time. This innovative combination captures the best of both techniques.
Coopered backrest. Coopering is the ancient art of constructing curved forms as used in barrel construction. The backrest staves are cut with edges 1 degree off perpendicular so that, when glued together, they pull into the curved form. Modified power tools are used to finish shape the graceful curves.
Shaped rails. The rails incorporate forms that echo local Cape Dutch architecture. These are achieved by trimming the rails to custom templates. - Design Challenge
- The main aesthetic challenge in this project was to conceptualize a design that would be recognizably 'Beke' and congruent with the existing dining chair, without merely looking like an elongated version of the same.
The manufacturing challenges were numerous. Combining steam bending with laminating for the rear legs required, in the end, a very complete understanding of the dynamics of steam bending. In particular, how steam bent parts spring back over time required extensive modeling and test work to realize the desired designed end product - Research
- Research focussed mainly on: the geometry of kitchen bar counter and chair; and the various manufacturing processes required to generate Beke
- Inspiration
- Beke means 'peace' and 'to be connected to'. This design is intended to put the user at ease, for extended comfort at the breakfast bar – to provide an ergonomic and aesthetic sense of peace. The design attempts to realize this sense of well-being, and at the same time to support a sense of connection with the space at the bar.
The design: respects the simplicity of the Danish Modern, and yet incorporates luxurious hardwood in the seat and back; integrates South African Cape Dutch architectural motifs with a sweeping architectural profile; uses a clean ash frame to showcase the richness of local and international hardwoods. - Project Duration
- The project was completed over the course of approximately 4 weeks. All design and manufacturing was completed in Johannesburg.
- Operation Flow
- The Beke kitchen bar chair sits permanently near or at the kitchen counter. The user easily steps into the chair, using the front foot rail if preferred. The user can readily sit forward to the kitchen bar, given the small angle of inclination. The user is also comfortably supported by the inclined backrest, which remains comfortable for a number of hours. This sustains the most engaged of mealtime conversations, or possibly a shared sports match at a home bar.
- Patents
- UK IP Office Registered Design: 6047912
Holder: John Griffith Williams, 2018 - Team Members
- John G Williams
- Image Credits
- John G Williams
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