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Decker Sella Plicabilis by Cameron Smith

Decker Sella Plicabilis by Cameron Smith is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum in Designatio Supellectilis Competition Category.


FerrumSupellex· 2022

Decker Sella Plicabilis

by Cameron Smith

Client: Furniture Smith

Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum Winner in Supellex Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #137461

Colors

The Design

About Decker Sella Plicabilis

Decker sella plicabilis est ad usum in navigiis oblectatoriis destinata. Sella aperitur ut sedile humile et reclinatorium fit, et in formam compactam plicatur centum tantum millimetra crassam. Compages ex chalybe inoxidabili facta est, tubis trapezoideis et ansis fusis constans, quae ferramentis ex orichalco in punctis cardinis iunguntur. Laminae ex ligno teak non ipsi compagini sed loris intextis affiguntur, ita ut sedes et dorsum cum utente flectantur. Geometria ultra centrum posita loris tensionem praestat cum sella aperta est. Flexus in compage sedis ansam gestandi efficit, et magnetes crura plicata in loco continent.

The Recognition

About the Praemium A' Design Award Ferreum

Decker Sella Plicabilis victor est Praemii A' Design Award Ferreum, honoris amplissimi formis bonis dati, quae postulatis professionalibus et industrialibus ab creationibus bene formatis exspectatis satisfaciunt. Victores Ferrei magnam peritiam, altam specializationem, intellectum periti et facultatem creandi auctorum suorum ostendunt. Exspectatur Decker Sella Plicabilis creationem multum aestimatam, admiratam et carissimam, practicam et novam fore. Haec forma Ferreo victa optimas industriae consuetudines integrat et proprietates technicas idoneas, cum scientia et talento coniunctas, habet. Decker Sella Plicabilis ob diligentiam suam honoratur et ad vitae qualitatem emendandam formatum est, ut mundum meliorem reddere iuvet.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
Inspired by the need for quality compact furniture on yachts, the Decker folding yacht chair easily folds from a lounge chair to a compact form factor. Teak wood slats are secured to webbing straps rather than the stainless steel frame to provide flex and added comfort in the seat. A jog in the seat frame creates a handle when folded and allows the needed geometry for an over center design that keeps the webbing in tension and the backrest open while in use.

The teak seat and back slats are secured to webbing straps that run from the front of the seat to the top of the back. When unfolded, the unique over-center design provides tension on the straps holding the teak seat and back. The straps provide a secure seat that flexes and gives with the user.
Dimensions & Packaging
Open
660 mm wide x 730 mm deep x 673 mm tall
26” wide x 28.75” deep x 26.5” tall

Folded
660 mm wide x 570 mm deep x 100 mm thick
26” wide x 22.5” deep x 4” tall
Tags
folding chair, yacht chair
Production Technology
Materials common in yachts such as stainless steel, brass and teak are used in the Decker chair. The stainless steel frame is fabricated with trapezoidal tubing and cast lugs. The tubing and lugs are welded and finished to create a seamless frame. Brass hardware is used for pivot joints and fastening hardware. An optional pad with outdoor fabric withstands the elements encountered by yachts.
Design Challenge
The chair has a simple design, yet there were several challenges in the design. Creating tension in the webbing and teak slats through the over center design of the backrest required multiple prototypes and webbing materials to be tested. The simplicity of the pivots required design iterations to create surfaces that interact with each other while the chair was open and closed. These simple details become the highlight of the chair.
Research
A lower lounge chair was selected to aid the ability to fold and nest shorter legs. An ergonomic model was created that allowed for adjustment of the angle and height of the seat and back.. Adjusting the angles and length of the components allowed for the geometry to be tested by various users for maximum comfort.
Inspiration
There is not a lot of room on yachts, but they maintain a high desire to have flexible furniture that can be easily stowed when not in use. Plastic chairs or bulky furniture aren't at home on expensive yachts. The Decker folding yacht chair can be used on deck and easily stowed when needed.
Project Duration
Design completed January 2022 with prototype units completed March 2022 in Seattle, Washington USA.
Operation Flow
The folding chair is simple to use. To close the chair simply flip the backrest down onto the seat. The teak slats relax when folded as the webbing is no longer under tension. With the backrest folded, the chair can be picked up by the handle on the back of the seat frame. The front legs are then folded followed by the back legs. The legs are held in place by magnets embedded inside the tubing.

The same process is used to unfold the chair. First the legs are unfolded and the chair placed on the legs. The backrest is opened and the teak slats are tightened with the webbing is tightened.
Team Members
Cameron Smith
Adam Smith
Image Credits
photo - Cameron Smith

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