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Flow Cathaoir Uilleach by Mattice Boets

Flow Cathaoir Uilleach by Mattice Boets is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award in Dearadh Troscáin Competition Category.


Cré-umhaTroscán· 2022

Flow Cathaoir Uilleach

by Mattice Boets

Client: Mattice Boets

Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award Winner in Troscán Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Flow Cathaoir Uilleach

Is cathaoir uilleach é sreabhadh spreagtha ag sreabhadh an uisce. Thosaigh an dearadh mar charraig lom, an fhoirm is simplí de chathaoir. Ansin tháinig an t-uisce, ag sileadh ar fud na carraige agus an duine ina shuí. Is é an t-idirghníomhú idir an charraig agus an t-uisce a chruthaigh an dearadh seo. Is é an toradh cathaoir uilleach múnlaithe go foirfe ar fud an gcorp an duine. Tá an dearadh go hiomlán uathúil ó gach uillinn. Ar bhealach, éiríonn an cathaoir uilleach mar chuid díot. Insíonn dearadh Sreabhadh mar aon lena dhath gorm domhain, scéal faoin gcaoi a raibh sé tráth.

The Recognition

About the Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award

Bhuaigh an dearadh Flow Cathaoir Uilleach Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award, aitheantas an-ghradamach a bhronntar ar dhearaí sármhaithe a mbíonn cruthaitheacht, aireagacht agus géarchúis mar shaintréithe acu. Is déantúsáin ghlic agus chruthaitheacha go suntasach iad buaiteoirí Cré-umha a dhearbhaíonn taithí fhairsing, samhlaíocht agus acmhainneacht a ndearthóirí. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh an dearadh Flow Cathaoir Uilleach ina rud a bhfuil an-mheas air, a n-ardaítear agus a ghráitear, atá thar a bheith gairmiúil agus nuálach. Ionchorpraíonn an dearadh seo a bhuaigh Duais Cré-umha A' Design Award na cleachtais is fearr san ealaín, san eolaíocht, sa dearadh agus sa teicneolaíocht, agus tá sé sármhaith as a aird ar mhionsonraí. Sásaíonn an dearadh Flow Cathaoir Uilleach riachtanais go hálainn, bainíonn sé le mianta, cuireann sé draíocht ar mhothúcháin agus tarraingíonn sé fiosracht.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
Flow is an armchair inspired by the flow of water. It’s a design that captures a static image of water flowing over rocks, two different elements that while in motion form one coherent entity and shape themselves around whatever crosses its path. It is as if the person sitting on the armchair were a rock, while the water flows around the person’s body. This creates a design that perfectly fits around the human body while being entirely unique from every angle.
Dimensions & Packaging
The armchair has a seating height of 46 cm measured at its highest point. It is 57 cm wide, 62 cm deep and 70 cm tall.
Tags
Flow, armchair, chair, Mattice, Boets, design, water, blue, rock, furniture
Production Technology
Flow consists of a steel inner frame that is pressed and then welded together. The chair is split up into multiple pieces which are then slid into the frame and attached. This creates a strong and durable construction. Foam in variable densities is used throughout the chair providing support where needed.
Design Challenge
During the development of the armchair, a prototype of hard foam was made. To speed up the development cycle, I made the prototype myself by sculpting a large block of foam by hand. Although I attempted to use section references, its organic design was too complex to be of any help. As a last resort, I sculpted the block of foam by eye with little to no tools. The prototype turned out great, but it was by far the most challenging aspect of realizing this project in time.
Research
The idea of Flow sparked during a walk near a local river. I find it interesting to look at things and wonder what they could become. From the flow of water, the interaction of plants and their environment to the way in which organisms grow. Although its relevance in the world of design is often overlooked since it doesn’t necessarily provide any immediate practical benefit, it does allow us to tell a story not in words but in physical matter.
Inspiration
Inspired by one of the oldest and most recognizable elements of nature, water and stone. Its shape creates a sense of familiarity and trust on an instinctive level, yet its form is unlike anything else. The design started as a bare rock, the simplest form of a chair. Then the water came, flowing all around the rock and the person. It is the interaction between this simple rock and the water that created this design.
Project Duration
The project started in October of 2019 in Kortrijk, Belgium and was finalized in January of 2020.
Operation Flow
The armrests in combination with the slightly reclined seating area provide a comfortable and relaxed position. When sitting, the inner foam adapts slightly while the back provides sufficient support. In a way, the armchair becomes part of you. Its deep blue color of water reminds us of how the design came to be.
Patents
Copyrights belong to Mattice Boets, 2020.

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