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Repose Poltrona lounge by John G Williams
Repose Poltrona lounge by John G Williams
Repose Poltrona lounge by John G Williams
Repose Poltrona lounge by John G Williams
Repose Poltrona lounge by John G Williams

Ferro Arredamento · 2019

Repose Poltrona lounge

by John G Williams

  • A' Design Award di Ferro 2019 in Arredamento
  • CLIENT: John G Williams Fine Furniture
  • Estimated Number of Design Views: 13,712
  • Verification code 3D882FC918 · Verify this award
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About Repose Poltrona lounge

Repose è una poltrona lounge realizzata in legno massello di latifoglia. Il telaio è in frassino americano, mentre la seduta e lo schienale sono in noce americano. La profonda seduta curva è ottenuta laminando elementi di legno sagomati con bordi angolati, una versione estrema della tecnica del bottaio impiegata per costruire le botti. Le curve interne sono lavorate a macchina fino a ottenere una superficie liscia con utensili realizzati su misura, mentre la parte superiore dei braccioli conserva una texture segmentata. Le gambe posteriori sono curvate a vapore e contribuiscono a stabilizzare i braccioli. I giunti a tenone e mortasa con caviglia sfalsata (draw bore) ne aumentano la resistenza. L'obiettivo era raggiungere il comfort di una poltrona imbottita utilizzando esclusivamente il legno massello.

About the A' Design Award di Ferro

Repose Poltrona lounge ha vinto l'A' Design Award di Ferro, un riconoscimento prestigioso conferito a buoni design che soddisfano i requisiti professionali e industriali attesi da creazioni ben progettate. I vincitori di Ferro dimostrano la grande abilità, l'elevata specializzazione, la comprensione esperta e la capacità creativa dei loro creatori. Ci si aspetta che Repose Poltrona lounge sia una creazione molto apprezzata, ammirata e amata, pratica e innovativa. Questo design vincitore dell'A' Design Award di Ferro integra le migliori pratiche del settore e ha caratteristiche tecniche competenti legate a know-how e talento. Repose Poltrona lounge è rispettato per la sua accuratezza ed è progettato per offrire miglioramenti della qualità della vita che aiutano a rendere il mondo un posto migliore.

Press Kit

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
Image Credits
All images: John G Williams

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