Skip to content
El_Masnad Zulia la Kuketi Sakafuni by Sana Alabdulwahed

El_Masnad Zulia la Kuketi Sakafuni by Sana Alabdulwahed is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2016 Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Samani Competition Category.


FedhaSamani· 2016

El_Masnad Zulia la Kuketi Sakafuni

by Sana Alabdulwahed

Client: Sana Alabdulwahed

Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award Winner in Samani Category

25,624

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #47459

Colors

The Design

About El_Masnad Zulia la Kuketi Sakafuni

El_Masnad ni zulia la kuketi sakafuni lililobuniwa kwa ajili ya sebule. Muundo huu unachukua mkono wa kutegemeza (armrest), ambao ni kitovu cha jadi katika nyumba za Kisaudi, na kuutumia kama kipengele kikuu cha kitengo cha kuketi, huku sehemu nyingine zote za kiti cha kawaida zikiondolewa. El_Masnad huwaweka watumiaji karibu na ardhi, hivyo kuketi kunahisi kama mchezo na jambo la kiasili. Vipande havina mwelekeo maalum uliowekwa na vinaweza kuunganishwa kwa mipangilio mingi. Kiini cha povu (foam core) hutengenezwa kwa mbinu ya kusaga kwa waya moto wa mihimili mitano (five-axis hot wire milling) kisha kufungwa kwa fela iliyoshonwa, kama zulia lililokunjwa.

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award

El_Masnad Zulia la Kuketi Sakafuni ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima kubwa ya ajabu unaotolewa kwa miundo ya hali ya juu kabisa, ya kupendeza na ya kuvutia. Washindi wa Fedha ni kazi zinazong'aa mno na bunifu kupita kiasi zinazoonyesha utaalamu bora, kipaji na busara ya wabunifu wao. El_Masnad Zulia la Kuketi Sakafuni inatarajiwa kuwa kazi nzuri ya kuigwa ambayo ni ya kitaalamu kwa kiasi kikubwa na yenye ubunifu wa kina. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Fedha ya A' Design Award ni uvumbuzi unaojulikana sana na kupendwa, unaonufaisha na kupanua mipaka ya sanaa, sayansi, usanifu na teknolojia. El_Masnad Zulia la Kuketi Sakafuni ni kazi inayotamaniwa mno inayochochea hamu, huleta hisia chanya na huzua mshangao na mastaajabu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
Armrests, traditionally, initiates nodes where the space is highly activated in Saudi Arabia. El_Masnad uses armrest as the main component for seating unit and neglect all other parts of a seating device. El_Masnad brings the users close to the ground, so it is much more playful and intuitive for this demographic. It allows the Sitting behaviors to emerge organically and intuitively in many different configurations.
Dimensions & Packaging
For one set, a pair of two pieces: w 335cm X d 180cm X h 30cm
For two sets, two pairs of two pieces, four pieces: w 470cm X d 180cm X h 30cm
Weight: 12 kg
Tags
outdoor, livingroom, carpet, local
Production Technology
Manufacturing includes:
5-axis hot wire milling for filling foam.
CNC stitching on felt for generated pattern design.
The upholstery roll up around the foam like the traditional way of rolling a carpet. Felt was used as contemporary alternative material for traditional wool carpets.
El_Masnad is not made of any hard material that may create an obstacle in the space. It rather made with soft materials where circulation can take place.
Design Challenge
One of the most difficult challenges was finding Saudi women willing to participate in taking pictures. The Second challenge was to see the demographic dramatic lifestyle changes as an outsider, which is critical to synthesize the research findings for the design outcome. Lastly, was Understanding the relationship between the designers, makers and consumers.
Research
Perception of Saudis: The appropriate perception of personal space in the Arab world is when there is a strong eye and physical contact while conducting conversation, therefore, the pieces fit together, interlocking making contact easy and intuitive. Arab appreciate complex geometrical forms, and a boxy forms may look naïve, Therefore, the traditional armrest outline was converted into an irregular polygon. Arab view forms with considering the harmonious interplay of forms, so the perception of balance is achieved when two of non-linear El-Masnad are put together.
Inspiration
We, Saudi’s end up sitting on the ground every time though there is a typical seating device in the living room. This sparked my curiosity, and inspired to create a the living room that is intuitive for us.
El Masnad design embraces the floor as a living space and it celebrates the Middle Eastern leisure culture.
Project Duration
el-Masnad was made for a thesis study at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA, U.S.A. It was part of the Master program in Environmental design, in Furniture and Fixtures track.
Thesis started with winter term of 2014 and ended by the end of the Spring 2015. The first prototype was presented at the graduate show on April 18th of 2014.
Operation Flow
The orientation:
The development of new technologies, like tablets, eliminates the need for seating units in the living room to face t.v. wall. Therefore, the layout of El_Masnad coming together, is not oriented and does not have a direction. It integrates multiple users doing different activities.
The height:
El_Masnad is close to the ground, so it is playful and intuitive for this demographic. It makes the space feels higher.
The posture:
Sitting behaviors emerges organically and intuitively in all different situations. In addition, the users intuitively adapt new sitting position as time goes by.
The angle:
El_Masnad emphasizes the front angle for reclining instead of what is typical of using the side angle to address the variable reclining angles.

Sponsored

Explore Beyond Designers.org

Discover products, services and opportunities from our advertising partners.

Good Design Deserves Great Recognition

The A' Design Award is an international, juried accolade for good design. Take part in the A' Design Award to get an opportunity to earn meritocratic recognition, gain fame, prestige and publicity for your work. Nominate your work for the A' Design Award and compete for the coveted A' Design Prize.

Nominate