Square or Circle Tulaga Nofoa by Xin Chen

Square or Circle Tulaga Nofoa by Xin Chen is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2020 A' Design Award Uʻamea in Faatufugaga Maualuga Competition Category.

UʻameaFaatufugaga Maualuga· 2020

Square or Circle Tulaga Nofoa

by Xin Chen

Client: Xin Chen

A' Design Award Uʻamea Winner in Faatufugaga Maualuga Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #91469

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Square or Circle Tulaga Nofoa

Ole faʻamoemoe autu ole fuafuaga a Xin Chen o loʻo fesoʻotaʻiina aganuu eseese ma ofoina atu se fou iloa e talisapaia meafale. Na ia fausiaina se auala fou o le fausiaina o meafale e tuʻufaʻatasia uma vaega a tagata ma ia uʻuina faʻatasi i le maea e ala i le faʻamalosi e aunoa ma le pipiʻi ma faovilivili. Na ia faia foi se fou ituaiga o meafale faʻataʻitaʻiga o le faʻafeaʻiina o meaafale i totonu taʻitasi fasi tagata, ona toe faʻatulaga lea ma toe suia i se fou faʻaleaganuʻu faʻatusa faatusa. O le ata mafai ona faʻamalieina ma le aoga faʻalelei ma matagofie mo tagata i le taimi e tasi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Uʻamea

O le A' Design Award Uʻamea na manumalo ai Square or Circle Tulaga Nofoa, o se faamaoniga mamalu e tuuina atu i mamanu lelei e faataunuu ai manaʻoga faapolofesa ma pisinisi e faamoemoeina mai galuega ua mamanuina lelei. O ē manumalo i le Uʻamea e faaalia ai le tomai tele, le faapitoa maualuga, le malamalama o tagata poto ma le mafai fatufatuaʻi o ē na faia. E faamoemoeina Square or Circle Tulaga Nofoa e avea ma mea ua matuā vivii, mataʻina ma pelepelea e aogā ma fou. O lenei mamanu na manumalo i le A' Design Award Uʻamea e tuufaatasia ai faiga sili o le pisinisi ma e iai uiga faatekonolosi mafai ua fesoʻotaʻi ma le poto ma le taleni. Ona o lona faatuatuaina, e tatau ai Square or Circle Tulaga Nofoa ona faaaloalogia ma ua mamanuina e tuuina mai ai faaleleiga o le olaga e fesoasoani e faia ai e le lalolagi se nofoaga e sili atu ona lelei.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This chair is called Square or Circle. The most interesting feature is that the chair is held together by tension, and can be disassembled into individual pieces, which can then be rearranged and transformed into a representation of the Chinese instrument, a Liuqin. This design can satisfy both functional and aesthetic needs. Meanwhile, it also allows people to carry it easily because all parts can be dismantled for transportation.
Dimensions & Packaging: 432mm x 534mm x 1143mm
All parts can be dismantled for transportation.
Tags: Chair, Chinese style, Disassembled, Wood, Joinery
Production Technology: It is made of cherry, walnut, fiber rope and hardware. The whole chair was joined together by different parts (seat, back, legs, and stretcher) without using glue, nails, and screws. Meanwhile, it holds together by a rope in tension.
Design Challenge: The challenge of this design is that one design can be fitted in both forms a chair form and a representation of Liuqin.
Research: The purpose of this design is to inspire people to think and appreciate differently about furniture. The chair is not only a piece of functional furniture but also attracts people to explore different cultural traditions. The design applies some Chinese elements to represent Chinese cultures, such as the color of Chinese red, and the yin and yang circle which is from the traditional Chinese philosophy.
Inspiration: This design is inspired by a traditional Chinese instrument Liuqin and the Italian Strozzi chair. The purpose of the design is to communicate the different cultures of Eastern and Western to modern audiences. I want to explore the cultural differences and similarities by using my design as a vehicle because I am experiencing it.
Project Duration: This project started in March 2016 and finished in May 2016 at Iowa state university. It was exhibited in The 22nd International Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Fine Craft, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA, the USA in December 2016.
Operation Flow: The chair was joined together without using glue, nails, and screws. Meanwhile, it holds together by a rope in tension. Users can lose the rope, then disassemble the chair in different pieces.
Image Credits: Image #1: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #2: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #3: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #4: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle
Image #5: Photographer George Ensley, Square or Circle