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Xanxan Plaukts by Smallgran studio

Xanxan Plaukts by Smallgran studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 Bronzas balva A' Design Award in Mēbeļu dizains Competition Category.


BronzasMēbeles· 2017

Xanxan Plaukts

by Smallgran studio

Client: Smallgran

Bronzas balva A' Design Award Winner in Mēbeles Category

14,892

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #57563

Colors

The Design

About Xanxan Plaukts

Xanxan ir plaukts ar pielāgojamu konfigurāciju, kas izstrādāts, lai samazinātu transportēšanai un uzglabāšanai nepieciešamo vietu. Dizains sastāv no diviem balsta stabiem, kuriem ir piestiprināts virkņu tīkls. Vienkāršs mehānisms ļauj lietotājam pielāgot katras virknes spriegojumu un izveidot līdzenu balsta virsmu. Uz Xanxan var novietot tādus pašus priekšmetus kā uz parasta plaukta, un to var izmantot arī kā pakaramo. Salīdzinājumā ar standarta plauktu, Xanxan izmanto septiņas reizes mazāk koka, tam nepieciešama deviņas reizes mazāka uzglabāšanas vieta, un tas sver četras reizes mazāk. Balsta stabi ir izgatavoti no kļavas koka.

The Recognition

About the Bronzas balva A' Design Award

Xanxan Plaukts ir Bronzas balvas A' Design Award ieguvējs, ļoti prestiža atzinība, ko piešķir izciliem dizainiem, kas izceļas ar radošumu, atjautību un viedumu. Bronzas ieguvēji ir pietiekami prasmīgi un pārsteidzoši radoši darbi, kas apliecina to dizaineru plašo pieredzi, iztēli un izdarību. Sagaidāms, ka Xanxan Plaukts būs augsti vērtēts, apbrīnots un cienīts priekšmets, ievērojami profesionāls un inovatīvs. Šis ar Bronzas balvu apbalvotais dizains iekļauj labāko praksi mākslā, zinātnē, dizainā un tehnoloģijās un izceļas ar uzmanību detaļām. Xanxan Plaukts lieliski apmierina vajadzības, skar vēlmes, valdzina jūtas un piesaista zinātkāri.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
Xanxan is a shelf featuring customizable configurations and optimized transport and storage space.
The product consists of two anchor posts to which a web of strings is fastened. It includes a simple mechanism that allows the user to adjust the tension of each string in order to provide a straight support surface.
Xanxan can hold everything a standard shelf holds and it can act as a hanger, too. But more importantly: compared to a standard shelf, Xanxan uses seven times less wood, requires a storage space nine times lower and weights four times less.
Dimensions & Packaging
Product: 300-1500* mm x 220 mm x 85 mm.
* This dimension depends on how it is installed.

Package: 90 mm x 70 mm x 245 mm

Weight supported: up to 20 kg.
Tags
Xanxan, Minimum Shelf, Shelf, Adaptable, Customizable, Hanger, Space Saving, Material Saving, Sustainable, Cord, Rope
Production Technology
The wooden pieces are formed by lathing the hard Maple Wood and later drilling the holes: three for the screws at the base and four for the strings at the pole. This process can be done by hand for loose units or through automated processes for industrial scale units.
The string is a standard Paracord that the user cuts at a specific length according to the distance at which the two anchor posts are installed.
Design Challenge
The main design challenge was to develop a fresh solution while reducing the material and ecological cost of an existing concept.
From the technical perspective, we had three challenges:
- Designing a tensioning mechanism. It had to fix the strings allowing for progressive tensioning and we needed to keep it simple to maintain the cost low.
- Finding a wood that is light-weight, cheap, resistant and tough enough.
- Finding a rope that holds its mechanical and dimensional properties over time.
Research
This project was driven by market research and experimentation.
After finding a market niche in adaptable shelves, the concept design phase was based on modeling and testing. We had to meet the requisites fixed by the best-selling shelves, so we developed several prototypes and tested them. The final solution was picked based on its simplicity, performance and interaction.
At the detailed design phase, we worked with master carpenters to pick the best materials and shape manufacture-wise.
Inspiration
Xanxan was first conceived under the challenge of reducing the material cost and ecological impact of an existing concept. As market research went on, the lack of flexibility and adaptability of the existing shelves to user and space needs drove the project to the final solution.
The project was self-commissioned from the studio itself as a means to prove its design skills.
Project Duration
The project started in the Polytechnical University of Valencia, where its first 5 months of development took part. After finishing their degree, Smallgran founders created the Valencia based studio where the design was then finished after 7 more months of work.
Operation Flow
For the installation, the user first needs to decide the position of each post. With the anchor posts fixed, four string segments are then tied to them in a zig-zag manner. After the strings are installed, the pegs must be turned. With every turn, the strand twists on itself increasing its tension becoming able to support weight.
Once the strings are taut, the shelf can be filled with books, Cd's, etc. Over time the shelf can lose its tension, this is fixed by giving the pegs a few more turns.
Team Members
Luis Herram
Carles Marquina Selfa
Francesc Duart Escribà
Carlos Carrasco Fraile
Borja Miret García
Image Credits
Image #1: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #2: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #3: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #4: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #5: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.

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