Bronze Furniture Design · 2022

Hopper Chair

by Takashi Niwa

A' Design Award 2022 Bronze Winner in Furniture Design
Awarded April 15, 2022
CLIENT: Takashi Niwa
Estimated Number of Design Views: 14,837
Verification code E5606E5480 · Verify this award

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About Hopper Chair

Hopper is a wooden chair designed for relaxed seating. The double curved frame with a customized profile supports comfort and gives the chair a dynamic form. Three corners of the profile are rounded where the body touches the chair, while one sharp edge remains to highlight the overall shape. The reclined angle turns into smooth armrests and backrests. Resting and support panels add lightness and structural stability. The parts were made with five axis CNC machining and then assembled by hand.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: The double curved wood frame with customized profile ensures comfort while also enhancing the dynamic form of the chair. The profile has its three corners filletted where the body is in contact with the chair. On the other hand, one strong edge still remains to highlight the overall gesture and appears with higher contrast under the lighting effect.
Dimensions & Packaging: 550 x 645 x 800
Tags: furniture, chair, ergonomic, wood
Production Technology: With high quality requirement and subtle details, the chair’s parts were made using 5 axis CNC for finishing accuration. A technician with 20 years of experience in craftsmanship then worked to assemble these parts and details together.
Design Challenge: It was a challenge to ensure structure and rigidity with the chair’s significant curves and incline without losing the purity of the form. Various testing took place to study different relationships between front legs and back legs’ curve and angle. Supporting structural frames and joints were then added underneath the seat to ensure stability.
Project Duration: The project was designed in Hanoi, Vietnam in May 2021 and finished in Binh Duong, Vietnam in February 2022
Operation Flow: With a welcoming gesture, Hopper Chair offers its user to relax with comfort. The reclined angle with a smooth curve turns into pleasant armrests and backrests. The double curved frame is designed to give light and open feelings with resting and support panels, which also enhance structural stability.
Research: Throughout the design process, there were many studies on the overall form to reveal strong gestures with simplicity. After multiple iterations of the leg and frame profile, a scale model was 3d printed for mock up before sending the final design to the factory.
Inspiration: Hopper Chair with its reclined ergonomics invites the users to sit back and relax. The signature double curves form an energizing and friendly gesture, which recalls a joyful spirit of hopping. When not in use, Hopper Chair is still a spark of joy in the space.
Image Credits: Naoto Ohike