El_Masnad 地台坐墊地毯 by Sana Alabdulwahed is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2016 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 傢俱設計 Competition Category.

銀傢俱· 2016

El_Masnad 地台坐墊地毯

by Sana Alabdulwahed

Client: Sana Alabdulwahed

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 傢俱 Category

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The Design

About El_Masnad 地台坐墊地毯

El_Masnad係一款專為客廳設計嘅地台坐墊地毯。呢個設計以扶手——沙特家居入面傳統嘅視覺焦點——作為坐墊單元嘅主要元素,而將一般座椅嘅其他部分全部移除。El_Masnad令使用者貼近地面,令坐低嘅感覺變得輕鬆好玩、直觀自然。每件組件都冇固定方向,可以自由組合成多種形態。發泡內芯採用五軸熱線銑削成型,再包裹縫製氈布,恍如一張捲起嘅地毯。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

El_Masnad 地台坐墊地毯是 A' Design Award 銀獎得主，這是授予頂級、華美而令人印象深刻的設計的極為崇高的認可。銀獎得主是極其卓越、極具創造力的作品，展現出其設計師傑出的專業技能、才華與敏銳。預計El_Masnad 地台坐墊地毯將成為一件出色的典範之作，兼具非凡的專業性與深刻的創新性。這件贏得 A' Design Award 銀獎的設計是一項備受矚目、令人欽佩的發明，造福並拓展藝術、科學、設計和技術的界限。El_Masnad 地台坐墊地毯是一件令人羨慕的創作，它喚起渴望，帶來積極的情感，並激發驚嘆與讚嘆。

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.