Beke 廚房吧椅 by John G Williams is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2019 A' Design Award 鐵獎 in 傢俱設計 Competition Category.

鐵傢俱· 2019

Beke 廚房吧椅

by John G Williams

Client: John G Williams Fine Furniture

A' Design Award 鐵獎 Winner in 傢俱 Category

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Verified Award Winner

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The Design

About Beke 廚房吧椅

Beke係一款專為廚房檯面或早餐吧設計嘅廚房吧椅。Beke呢個名嘅意思係和平同連繫。座位、靠背同腳踏嘅幾何形狀經過精心設計,務求喺長時間使用時都能夠提供舒適嘅坐感。座位採用訂製夾板層壓製成,並以胡桃木飾面作最後修飾。後腳分兩部分蒸汽彎曲成形,再經層壓處理,確保長期尺寸穩定。靠背係由多塊塑形木條桶箍式拼合而成。簡潔嘅白蠟木框架經過塑形處理,令整張椅子呈現輕盈而寧靜嘅外觀。

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award 鐵獎

Beke 廚房吧椅是 A' Design Award 鐵獎得主，這是授予滿足人們對設計精良的創作所期待的專業與工業要求的優良設計的聲望認可。鐵獎得主展現出其創作者的高超技藝、高度專業化、專家級的理解力和創造能力。預計Beke 廚房吧椅將成為一件備受推崇、令人欽佩且被珍愛的創作，既實用又創新。這件贏得 A' Design Award 鐵獎的設計整合了行業最佳實踐，並擁有與專業知識和才華相結合的稱職技術特性。Beke 廚房吧椅因其嚴謹而受到尊重，旨在提供有助於讓世界變得更美好的生活品質改善。

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: An elegant and stable chair for use at a kitchen bar or counter, in the same range at the Beke dining chair. The chair is designed to be comfortable for extended periods of use, and the geometry of seat, backrest, and footrest have been tailored with this in mind.
The seat is a unique custom plywood laminate finished in walnut veneer to an architectural form.
The rear legs are formed in two parts: first by steam bending the graceful form, and then laminating for long term dimensional stability.
The rails are profiled in an attempt to reinforce the overall lightness and sense of peace, and to support the cantilevered seat over the front rail.
Dimensions & Packaging: Overall dimensions: 1080mm high x 470mm wide x 670mm deep
Seat dimension: 470mm wide x 440mm deep
Backrest dimensions: 540mm wide x 200 mm high
Seat angle: 3 degrees
Backrest angle: 18 degrees
Included angle: 15 degrees
Seat height: 660 mm
Backrest height: 1025mm
Weight: 7.0kg
Tags: Beke, kitchen bar chair, south africa, hardwood, curved, danish modern, minimalist, ash, walnut, gracefu
Production Technology: The chair design incorporates a number of innovative components: custom plywood seat; steam bent rear legs; coopered backrest; and shaped rails:
Custom plywood seat. The seat is formed from 5 plies, which are then finished top and bottom with a walnut veneer. The profile is a custom design that is used to build a purpose made forming press to generate finished seat forms. T nuts are encapsulated in the ply, so that the seat can be securely bolted to the frame with no interruption at all of the top surface of the seat.
Steam bent rear legs. The rear legs are steam bent in two pieces; cooled and stabilized; and then laminated to generate the final leg forms. Regular lamination was discarded on account of the excessive glue joints implied; and steam bending alone risked dimensional instability over time. This innovative combination captures the best of both techniques.
Coopered backrest. Coopering is the ancient art of constructing curved forms as used in barrel construction. The backrest staves are cut with edges 1 degree off perpendicular so that, when glued together, they pull into the curved form. Modified power tools are used to finish shape the graceful curves.
Shaped rails. The rails incorporate forms that echo local Cape Dutch architecture. These are achieved by trimming the rails to custom templates.
Design Challenge: The main aesthetic challenge in this project was to conceptualize a design that would be recognizably 'Beke' and congruent with the existing dining chair, without merely looking like an elongated version of the same.
The manufacturing challenges were numerous. Combining steam bending with laminating for the rear legs required, in the end, a very complete understanding of the dynamics of steam bending. In particular, how steam bent parts spring back over time required extensive modeling and test work to realize the desired designed end product
Research: Research focussed mainly on: the geometry of kitchen bar counter and chair; and the various manufacturing processes required to generate Beke
Inspiration: Beke means 'peace' and 'to be connected to'. This design is intended to put the user at ease, for extended comfort at the breakfast bar – to provide an ergonomic and aesthetic sense of peace. The design attempts to realize this sense of well-being, and at the same time to support a sense of connection with the space at the bar.
The design: respects the simplicity of the Danish Modern, and yet incorporates luxurious hardwood in the seat and back; integrates South African Cape Dutch architectural motifs with a sweeping architectural profile; uses a clean ash frame to showcase the richness of local and international hardwoods.
Project Duration: The project was completed over the course of approximately 4 weeks. All design and manufacturing was completed in Johannesburg.
Operation Flow: The Beke kitchen bar chair sits permanently near or at the kitchen counter. The user easily steps into the chair, using the front foot rail if preferred. The user can readily sit forward to the kitchen bar, given the small angle of inclination. The user is also comfortably supported by the inclined backrest, which remains comfortable for a number of hours. This sustains the most engaged of mealtime conversations, or possibly a shared sports match at a home bar.
Patents: UK IP Office Registered Design: 6047912
Holder: John Griffith Williams, 2018
Team Members: John G Williams
Image Credits: John G Williams