Whale Tail Sëtzbank by Enrique Minguez is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award an Sëlwer in Gaart a Baussenmiwwelen Design Competition Category.

SëlwerBaussenmiwwelen· 2021

Whale Tail Sëtzbank

by Enrique Minguez

Client: QZ Urban Furniture

A' Design Award an Sëlwer Winner in Baussenmiwwelen Category

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Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #118288

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The Design

About Whale Tail Sëtzbank

Dëst Stéck Stadmobiliar ass e vielsäitegt Element fir bannen an baussen. D'Form vum Sëtz a senger Ënnerstëtzung mécht d'Bank ähnlech mam Schwanz vun engem Wal, ouni datt d'Ergonomie an d'Stabilitéit beaträchtegt ginn. Eng dënn Schicht vu Glasfaser bedeckt de banneschten Kär aus Holz oder Beton, deen mat recycléiertem Plastik ugeräichert ass. Si ka eleng oder a klengen Gruppen plazéiert ginn.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award an Sëlwer

Whale Tail Sëtzbank ass e Gewënner vum A' Design Award an Sëlwer, enger aussergewéinlech prestigiéiser Unerkennung, déi un Designe vun der héchster Qualitéit, prächteg a beandrockend vergi gëtt. Sëlwer-Gewënner si bemierkenswäert brillant a ganz kreativ Wierker, déi d'erausragend Expertise, d'Talent an d'Schaarfsënnegkeet vun hire Designer weisen. Et gëtt erwaart, datt Whale Tail Sëtzbank e wonnerbart, mustergëlteg, bemierkenswäert professionellt an déif innovatiivt Wierk ass. Dëst mam Sëlwer ausgezeechent Design ass eng bemierkenswäert, bewonnert Erfindung, déi dozou bäidréit, d'Grenze vun der Konscht, der Wëssenschaft, vum Design an der Technologie ze erweideren. Whale Tail Sëtzbank ass eng Kreatioun, op déi vill neidesch sinn, déi Wënsch erweckt, positiv Gefiller bréngt an Erstaunen a Wonner erweckt.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This single support design, allows for elegance and sobriety in both urban and natural environments. It can be placed either by itself or in small groups, enabling the seating space to resemble the vision of a single whale or of a whole pod swimming in harmony. It allows for different options in use of materials. It can be made of fiberglass reinforced either with wood or concrete. Yet, in its most environmentally efficient version, it can also be made of fiberglass reinforced with concrete and recycled plastic. All of these combinations enable the seat to follow a clean and ergonomic shape. Depending on the materials chosen it can resist up to 310kg.
Dimensions & Packaging: The maximum measures are 80cm width, 54cm depth and 51cm height. The width varies in a smooth transition from the tail (seat) of 80 cm to the neck of the tail (base) of just 16 cm.
Tags: WhaleTailBench, WhaleTail, Bench, SeaBench, PortBench, Seafront
Production Technology: It can be made from three different processes:
A. Fiberglass reinforced with wood. Fiberglass painted thick between 8 and 12 mm. Interior reinforced with high density compact laminated wood frame.
B. Fiberglass with reinforced concrete and recycled plastic. Fiberglass painted thick between 4 and 8 mm. Interior reinforced with polymer concrete and recycled HPDE.
C. Reinforced concrete. Concrete finish, reinforced with fibers of very high performance and great plasticity, which gives it great resistance.
Design Challenge: Once the molds were made, the main problem was maintaining the beauty in all the surface of the element. The solution to the problem was found adapting the manufacturing process to the different materials. It needed to be done in two parts that had to be joined later, working on the partition line. In the case of fiberglass reinforced with concrete and recycled plastic, the problem resided in the breathability of the concrete. To avoid it penetrating the fiber, the element was painted after finishing the piece. Finally, in the version with only concrete, the opening in the surface to pour the concrete was too small and the figure needed to be vibrated, so the solution involved changes in the pouring method and a concrete grain reduction.
Research: The type of research used was data collection by observation, as the main objective was to create a piece based on marine life. Design Thinking Methodology was then used to ensure that ergonomics was present, but always framed by the connection to the sea. Bearing that in mind, whales, dolphins, seahorses, waves and other remarkable marine items were studied to abstract their basic shapes. The aim was to establish a relationship between those shapes and the forms produced by the human body, in search of a practical figure. After some failed initial creations, the focus turned to capturing the aerodynamic and organic essence of the marine environment. Thus, it was concluded that the tail of a whale resembled the basic ergonomics of a seat. The first version was designed with bigger cantilevers but did not pass the strength simulation program test since the bending movement was too big for the desired single support. In order to solve this key part, the cantilever was shortened and the structure reinforced with an internal frame of wood. In the final model, this frame runs through the entire central part of the piece, being the connecting component between the two faces of the bench.
Inspiration: This piece of furniture takes its inspiration from the ocean and one of the most iconic images it offers us: the whale tails.
Project Duration: The project started in September 2019 and finished in March 2020 in Cartagena (Spain), and it was exhibited in the port of Cartagena in June 2020. Currently it has been proposed for a large-area shopping center.
Operation Flow: Sitting bench. This piece not only fulfils the function of a seat, it also provides an aesthetic value when it is placed in the urban space: seafronts, ports, parks, squares, streets and boulevards. When t it is not occupied, its soft undulating shapes make it a sculptural element.
Patents: Patented. 08/2020/435. Enrique Mínguez Ros. 2020. Intellectual property.
Team Members: Designer: Enrique Mínguez
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer David Frutos, Whale Tail Bench, 2020.
Image #2: Photographer David Frutos, Whale Tail Bench, 2020.
Image #3: Photographer David Frutos, Whale Tail Bench, 2020.
Image #4: Photographer Mario González, Whale Tail Bench, 2020.
Image #2: Photographer Enrique Mínguez, Whale Tail Bench, 2020.