Kala 層壓竹凳 by Chung-Sheng Chen, Chung-Yen Wang and Yi-Lin Wu

Kala 層壓竹凳 by Chung-Sheng Chen, Chung-Yen Wang and Yi-Lin Wu is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 A' Design Award 銀獎 in 傢俱設計 Competition Category.

銀傢俱· 2017

Kala 層壓竹凳

by Chung-Sheng Chen, Chung-Yen Wang and Yi-Lin Wu

Client: Tainan University of Technology/ Product Design Department

A' Design Award 銀獎 Winner in 傢俱 Category

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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Kala 層壓竹凳

卡拉（Kala），一種由層壓竹製製成的凳子，其中心軸具有可伸縮的機構。以油紙傘結構為靈感，將層壓竹條進行加熱烘烤，然後將夾具固定在彎曲成形狀的木模中，顯示出其簡單和東方的魅力。有趣的是，設計的疊層竹結構的彈性和中心軸上的可伸縮機構，使人坐在卡拉凳子上時會發現相互作用，輕輕而平穩地下降，而從卡拉凳子站起來時，它會上升回到其位置。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 銀獎

Kala 層壓竹凳是 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Kala 層壓竹凳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。Kala 層壓竹凳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: Kala, the name taking from the sound when sitting on a bamboo furniture, especially sitting on this unique stool made in laminated bamboo with a retractable mechanism in the central axis. Kala stool taking oil-paper umbrella as its inspiration, laminated bamboo strip was heat baked in the wood mold with clamp fixture and bended into shape later assembled with bamboo nails, showing its simplicity and oriental charming. Due to the elasticity of bamboo material and the retractable mechanism in the central axis, one’s will find interesting interaction when sitting on Kala stool, it will descend lightly and smoothly, and when one’s stood up Kala will ascend back to its position.
Dimensions & Packaging: Diameter 480mm(Top) * Diameter 580mm * Height 600mm
Tags: Laminated, Bamboo, Stool, Heat Baked Bending, Furniture, Oil-Paper, Umbrella, Craft.
Production Technology: Echoing to the oil-paper umbrella structure, laminated bamboo as the overall material used. Wood mold used for each bent parts, after the mold been heat baked for 1~2 minutes, bamboo strip was placed into the mold with clamp pressure for another 5 minutes, repeated for 4 – 5 times until its formed into structural shape, later then assembled the bended strip with bamboo nails. The contraction central axis made by cypress wood for its rigidity.
Design Challenge: The most challenging in this designed is the precision and calculation of the strength of the laminated bamboo, taking too many laminated bamboo strip definitely will provide sufficient weight sustain, but will waived out its simplicity and beauty, the problem vice versa. Bending the laminated bamboo is another challenging issued, it needs accuracy to shape it. Finally is transferring the sliding structure of the oil-paper umbrella to the retractable mechanism in order to achieve sitting interaction.
Research: The study of "Kala" was inspired by oil-paper umbrellas, an iconic item for Hakka ethnic group in Taiwan. Echoing to the oil-paper umbrella structure, the design team used the laminated bamboo for the whole structure, which is firm, durable and elastic. It reaches some level of yield and remains the spirits of traditional crafts by making molds through tenacity of the bamboo and oriental traditional bamboo crafts. Bamboo consider as environment friendly material, helping to slow down the deforestation. The team will continually to study and develop the probability of the use of bamboo material to create more interactional and interesting design.
Inspiration: Inspired by Hakka one of the largest ethnic groups in Taiwan, its culture item oil-paper umbrella, is incredible works of art, painted with elaborate designs, and symbol of good luck. The structure and material of the umbrella is fascinating, traditionally bamboo stick is the main structure frame.
Project Duration: The project commenced the sketching stage in 2016 September in Tainan. Early prototypes were completed in Tainan before the final design was completed in Nantou in 2017 April. Making its first debut in Taiwan Young Design Exhibition 2017 May in Taipei World Trade Center.
Operation Flow: The elasticity of the lminated bamboo and the retractable mechanism in the central axis, one’s will find interesting interaction when sitting on "Kala" stool, it will descend lightly and smoothly, and when one’s stood up "Kala" will ascend back to its position.
Patents: Patent Pending.
Team Members: Instructor:ChungSheng Chen
Designer:ChungYen Wang
Designer:YiLin Wu
Tainan University of Technology
Product Design Department
Image Credits: ChungYen Wang
YiLin Wu