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Xanxan Kabati la kuhifadhia vitu by Smallgran studio

Xanxan Kabati la kuhifadhia vitu by Smallgran studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award in Usanifu wa Samani Competition Category.


ShabaSamani· 2017

Xanxan Kabati la kuhifadhia vitu

by Smallgran studio

Client: Smallgran

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

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Xanxan Kabati la kuhifadhia vitu

Xanxan ni kabati la kuhifadhia vitu lenye mipangilio inayoweza kubadilishwa, iliyoundwa ili kupunguza nafasi ya usafirishaji na uhifadhi. Muundo huu unajumuisha nguzo mbili za nanga ambazo mtandao wa kamba umefungwa. Utaratibu rahisi humruhusu mtumiaji kurekebisha mkazo wa kila kamba na kuunda uso wa msaada ulionyooka. Xanxan hubeba vitu sawa na kabati la kawaida na pia inaweza kutumika kama kishikizo cha nguo. Ikilinganishwa na kabati la kawaida, Xanxan hutumia mbao mara saba chache, inahitaji nafasi ya kuhifadhi mara tisa chache na ina uzito wa mara nne chache. Nguzo za nanga zimetengenezwa kwa mbao za mepo (maple).

The Recognition

About the Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award

Xanxan Kabati la kuhifadhia vitu ni mshindi wa Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award, utambuzi wenye heshima kubwa unaotolewa kwa miundo bora inayotofautishwa kwa ubunifu, ustadi na busara. Washindi wa Shaba ni kazi za ufundi mwingi na bunifu ya kushangaza zinazothibitisha uzoefu mpana, mawazo na ustadi wa wabunifu wao. Xanxan Kabati la kuhifadhia vitu inatarajiwa kuwa kitu kinachothaminiwa sana, kupendwa na kuenziwa, ambacho ni cha kitaalamu na bunifu kwa kiasi kikubwa. Muundo huu ulioshinda Tuzo ya Shaba ya A' Design Award unajumuisha mbinu bora katika sanaa, sayansi, usanifu na teknolojia, na ni bora kwa umakini wake kwa undani. Xanxan Kabati la kuhifadhia vitu hutosheleza mahitaji kwa uzuri, hugusa hamu, huvutia hisia na kuvutia udadisi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties
Xanxan is a shelf featuring customizable configurations and optimized transport and storage space.
The product consists of two anchor posts to which a web of strings is fastened. It includes a simple mechanism that allows the user to adjust the tension of each string in order to provide a straight support surface.
Xanxan can hold everything a standard shelf holds and it can act as a hanger, too. But more importantly: compared to a standard shelf, Xanxan uses seven times less wood, requires a storage space nine times lower and weights four times less.
Dimensions & Packaging
Product: 300-1500* mm x 220 mm x 85 mm.
* This dimension depends on how it is installed.

Package: 90 mm x 70 mm x 245 mm

Weight supported: up to 20 kg.
Tags
Xanxan, Minimum Shelf, Shelf, Adaptable, Customizable, Hanger, Space Saving, Material Saving, Sustainable, Cord, Rope
Production Technology
The wooden pieces are formed by lathing the hard Maple Wood and later drilling the holes: three for the screws at the base and four for the strings at the pole. This process can be done by hand for loose units or through automated processes for industrial scale units.
The string is a standard Paracord that the user cuts at a specific length according to the distance at which the two anchor posts are installed.
Design Challenge
The main design challenge was to develop a fresh solution while reducing the material and ecological cost of an existing concept.
From the technical perspective, we had three challenges:
- Designing a tensioning mechanism. It had to fix the strings allowing for progressive tensioning and we needed to keep it simple to maintain the cost low.
- Finding a wood that is light-weight, cheap, resistant and tough enough.
- Finding a rope that holds its mechanical and dimensional properties over time.
Research
This project was driven by market research and experimentation.
After finding a market niche in adaptable shelves, the concept design phase was based on modeling and testing. We had to meet the requisites fixed by the best-selling shelves, so we developed several prototypes and tested them. The final solution was picked based on its simplicity, performance and interaction.
At the detailed design phase, we worked with master carpenters to pick the best materials and shape manufacture-wise.
Inspiration
Xanxan was first conceived under the challenge of reducing the material cost and ecological impact of an existing concept. As market research went on, the lack of flexibility and adaptability of the existing shelves to user and space needs drove the project to the final solution.
The project was self-commissioned from the studio itself as a means to prove its design skills.
Project Duration
The project started in the Polytechnical University of Valencia, where its first 5 months of development took part. After finishing their degree, Smallgran founders created the Valencia based studio where the design was then finished after 7 more months of work.
Operation Flow
For the installation, the user first needs to decide the position of each post. With the anchor posts fixed, four string segments are then tied to them in a zig-zag manner. After the strings are installed, the pegs must be turned. With every turn, the strand twists on itself increasing its tension becoming able to support weight.
Once the strings are taut, the shelf can be filled with books, Cd's, etc. Over time the shelf can lose its tension, this is fixed by giving the pegs a few more turns.
Team Members
Luis Herram
Carles Marquina Selfa
Francesc Duart Escribà
Carlos Carrasco Fraile
Borja Miret García
Image Credits
Image #1: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #2: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #3: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #4: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #5: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.

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