Repose विश्रामासनम् by John G Williams is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2019 A' Design Award लौहपुरस्कारः in गृहोपस्कर अभिकल्पना Competition Category.
लौहम्गृहोपस्करः· 2019
Repose विश्रामासनम्
Client: John G Williams Fine Furniture
A' Design Award लौहपुरस्कारः Winner in गृहोपस्करः Category
- 13,712
- Verified Award Winner
- Verify Award Status for #75298
The Design
About Repose विश्रामासनम्
रिपोज़ इति दृढकाष्ठनिर्मितं विश्रामासनम् अस्ति। इदं कङ्कालं अमेरिकी-राख-काष्ठेन (American ash) निर्मितम्, आसनं पृष्ठभागश्च अमेरिकी-अखरोट-काष्ठेन (American walnut) रचितौ स्तः। गभीरं वक्रं आसनं तिर्यक्-कोणयुक्तकिनारीभिः आकारितकाष्ठखण्डानां स्तरीकरणेन (लैमिनेशन-प्रक्रियया) निर्मितम्, यत् पीपानिर्माणे उपयुज्यमानायाः कूपरिंग्-विधेः अतिशयितं रूपम् अस्ति। आन्तरिकवक्राणि विशिष्टयन्त्रोपकरणैः सुष्ठु समतलानि कृतानि, यदा च हस्तधरणस्य उपरिभागाः खण्डितसंरचनायुक्तां स्पर्शानुभूतिं धारयन्ति। पश्चाद्भागस्थचरणौ वाष्पद्वारा वक्रीकृतौ, यौ हस्तधरणयोः स्थैर्यं वर्धयतः। ड्रा-बोर-टेनन-सन्धयः (Draw bore tenon joints) दृढतां प्रयच्छन्ति। एतस्य उद्देश्यम् आसीत् यत् केवलं दृढकाष्ठेन एव तूलिकावृतासनस्य सुखानुभूतिं प्राप्तुम्।
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award लौहपुरस्कारः
Repose विश्रामासनम् A' Design Award लौहपुरस्कारस्य विजेता अस्ति; इदं प्रतिष्ठितं मान्यताप्रदानं तेभ्य उत्तमेभ्योऽभिकल्पेभ्यो दीयते ये सुनिर्मितेभ्यः सृष्टिभ्योऽपेक्षिताः व्यावसायिकीः औद्योगिकीश्चावश्यकताः पूरयन्ति। लौहविजेतारः स्वनिर्मातॄणां महत् कौशलम्, उच्चां विशेषज्ञताम्, विशेषज्ञोचितां बोधशक्तिं सृजनसामर्थ्यं च प्रदर्शयन्ति। Repose विश्रामासनम् अत्यन्तं मूल्यवती प्रशंसिता प्रिया च सृष्टिर्व्यावहारिका नवोन्मेषयुक्ता च भविष्यतीति प्रत्याशा क्रियते। A' Design Award लौहपुरस्कारं जितवद् एतद् अभिकल्पकार्यम् उद्योगस्य श्रेष्ठतमाः पद्धतीः समन्वयति ज्ञानेन प्रतिभया च संयुक्तानि सक्षमप्राविधिकलक्षणानि च धारयति। Repose विश्रामासनम् स्वसूक्ष्मसमीक्षायाः कारणाद् आद्रियते जीवनस्तरसुधारम् अर्पयितुं च निर्मितम् अस्ति, यद् विश्वम् उत्तमतरं स्थानं कर्तुं साहाय्यं करोति।
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- 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
- Team Members
- John G Williams
- Image Credits
- All images: John G Williams
Sponsored
Explore Beyond Designers.org
Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.
More to Explore
Related Designs
Explore more award-winning designs from the same category, selected by merit.
