Beke Köksbarstol by John G Williams is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2019 A' Design Award i Järn in Möbeldesign Competition Category.
JärnMöbler· 2019
Beke Köksbarstol
Client: John G Williams Fine Furniture
A' Design Award i Järn Winner in Möbler Category
Verified Award Winner
Verify Award Status for #71063The Design
About Beke Köksbarstol
Beke är en köksbarstol designad för användning vid en köksbänk eller frukostbar. Namnet Beke betyder frid och att vara sammankopplad med. Geometrin hos sitsen, ryggstödet och fotstödet är anpassad för komfort under långa perioder av användning. Sitsen är en specialtillverkad plywoodlaminat med finish i valnötsfaner. Bakbenen är ångböjda i två delar och därefter laminerade för långsiktig dimensionsstabilitet. Ryggstödet är tunnbindartillverkat av formade stavar. Den rena asken-ramen är formad för att ge stolen ett lätt och lugnt uttryck.
The Recognition
About the A' Design Award i Järn
Beke Köksbarstol är vinnare av A' Design Award i Järn, ett prestigefyllt erkännande som tilldelas bra designverk som uppfyller de professionella och industriella krav som förväntas av välgjorda skapelser. Järnvinnare visar stor skicklighet, hög specialisering, expertförståelse och skaparnas kreativa förmåga. Beke Köksbarstol förväntas vara en högt skattad, beundrad och älskad skapelse som är praktisk och innovativ. Detta vinnande verk i A' Design Award i Järn integrerar branschens bästa praxis och har kompetenta tekniska egenskaper kopplade till kunnande och talang. Beke Köksbarstol respekteras för sin grundlighet och är utformat för att åstadkomma förbättringar av livskvaliteten som hjälper till att göra världen till en bättre plats.
Behind the Design
Press Kit
Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.
- Unique Properties
- An elegant and stable chair for use at a kitchen bar or counter, in the same range at the Beke dining chair. The chair is designed to be comfortable for extended periods of use, and the geometry of seat, backrest, and footrest have been tailored with this in mind.
The seat is a unique custom plywood laminate finished in walnut veneer to an architectural form.
The rear legs are formed in two parts: first by steam bending the graceful form, and then laminating for long term dimensional stability.
The rails are profiled in an attempt to reinforce the overall lightness and sense of peace, and to support the cantilevered seat over the front rail. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Overall dimensions: 1080mm high x 470mm wide x 670mm deep
Seat dimension: 470mm wide x 440mm deep
Backrest dimensions: 540mm wide x 200 mm high
Seat angle: 3 degrees
Backrest angle: 18 degrees
Included angle: 15 degrees
Seat height: 660 mm
Backrest height: 1025mm
Weight: 7.0kg - Tags
- Beke, kitchen bar chair, south africa, hardwood, curved, danish modern, minimalist, ash, walnut, gracefu
- Production Technology
- The chair design incorporates a number of innovative components: custom plywood seat; steam bent rear legs; coopered backrest; and shaped rails:
Custom plywood seat. The seat is formed from 5 plies, which are then finished top and bottom with a walnut veneer. The profile is a custom design that is used to build a purpose made forming press to generate finished seat forms. T nuts are encapsulated in the ply, so that the seat can be securely bolted to the frame with no interruption at all of the top surface of the seat.
Steam bent rear legs. The rear legs are steam bent in two pieces; cooled and stabilized; and then laminated to generate the final leg forms. Regular lamination was discarded on account of the excessive glue joints implied; and steam bending alone risked dimensional instability over time. This innovative combination captures the best of both techniques.
Coopered backrest. Coopering is the ancient art of constructing curved forms as used in barrel construction. The backrest staves are cut with edges 1 degree off perpendicular so that, when glued together, they pull into the curved form. Modified power tools are used to finish shape the graceful curves.
Shaped rails. The rails incorporate forms that echo local Cape Dutch architecture. These are achieved by trimming the rails to custom templates. - Design Challenge
- The main aesthetic challenge in this project was to conceptualize a design that would be recognizably 'Beke' and congruent with the existing dining chair, without merely looking like an elongated version of the same.
The manufacturing challenges were numerous. Combining steam bending with laminating for the rear legs required, in the end, a very complete understanding of the dynamics of steam bending. In particular, how steam bent parts spring back over time required extensive modeling and test work to realize the desired designed end product - Research
- Research focussed mainly on: the geometry of kitchen bar counter and chair; and the various manufacturing processes required to generate Beke
- Inspiration
- Beke means 'peace' and 'to be connected to'. This design is intended to put the user at ease, for extended comfort at the breakfast bar – to provide an ergonomic and aesthetic sense of peace. The design attempts to realize this sense of well-being, and at the same time to support a sense of connection with the space at the bar.
The design: respects the simplicity of the Danish Modern, and yet incorporates luxurious hardwood in the seat and back; integrates South African Cape Dutch architectural motifs with a sweeping architectural profile; uses a clean ash frame to showcase the richness of local and international hardwoods. - Project Duration
- The project was completed over the course of approximately 4 weeks. All design and manufacturing was completed in Johannesburg.
- Operation Flow
- The Beke kitchen bar chair sits permanently near or at the kitchen counter. The user easily steps into the chair, using the front foot rail if preferred. The user can readily sit forward to the kitchen bar, given the small angle of inclination. The user is also comfortably supported by the inclined backrest, which remains comfortable for a number of hours. This sustains the most engaged of mealtime conversations, or possibly a shared sports match at a home bar.
- Patents
- UK IP Office Registered Design: 6047912
Holder: John Griffith Williams, 2018 - Team Members
- John G Williams
- Image Credits
- John G Williams
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