Flow Maikpali by Mattice Boets is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse in Caltlapechtli Tlachihchihualiztli Competition Category.

BronseCaltlapechtli· 2022

Flow Maikpali

by Mattice Boets

Client: Mattice Boets

Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse Winner in Caltlapechtli Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Flow Maikpali

Flow in ce maikpali yollochihchihualli ipampa in atl ioliniz. Ini chihualiztli pehua iuhquin ce tetl ixachi, ce ikpali zan iceltica. Zatepan in atl hualla, olini nohuian in tetl ihuan in tlacatl motlaliani. In netlacuiloliztli in tetl ihuan in atl ipan omochiuh ini chihualiztli. Tlamia ihuan in maikpali cualli ipan mochihua in tonacayo. Ini chihualiztli nochi ixachi nohuiampa. Iuhquin in maikpali mochihua ce ihuan tehuatzin. Ini chihualiztli Flow ihuan ixoxouhca texohtic quitenehua ce tlahtolli inic quenin ye omochiuh.

The Recognition

About the Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse

Flow Maikpali ca in quicuic in Mahuizolli A' Design Award Bronse, hueyi tlamahuizoliztli tlen momaca in cualli tlachihualli in motenehua ipampa yancuic tlamantli, tlamatiliztli ihuan ixtlamatiliztli. In quicuicah Bronse ca tlachihualli in quipia toltecayotl ihuan quinextia in cenca miac nemiliztli ihuan tlamatiliztli intlachihuanime. Ca quinequi in Flow Maikpali ca tlazohtli tlamantli, mahuiztic ihuan cualli. Ni dizayno in quicuic Bronse quipia cualli toltecayotl ihuan quitta in tlen tepiton. Flow Maikpali quipaquiltia in tlacah ihuan quitlamahuiztiltia in intlanequiliz.

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.