W CHAIR
“Blackened Cold Rolled Steel Chair”
2021
Designed & Built by me in London, UK
Personal Project
“Blackened Cold Rolled Steel Chair”
2021
Designed & Built by me in London, UK
Personal Project
The execution of a sketchbook idea - A curved steel chair made from only two pieces of stainless steel. The first cold rolled steel into a “W” shape to form the base and the second plasma cut and welded to create the backing of the chair. The steel base acts as a sculptural version of the chair comfortable enough to sit, but the addition of the cushion adds another layer of comfortability whenever necessary. These two versions allow for flexibility in its use and can act as more of an artistic piece or more of a functional piece with the easy addition of the cushion layer. The black rubberized blanket cushion magnetizes directly to the steel and can be set in place with whatever configuration is easiest and most comfortable. The steel has been blackened and sealed and the cushion rubberized, so the chair is weatherproof and can also be used in an outdoor setting.
This project emerged from having a sketchbook full of chair sketches for so long, but never having built or executed any of them. In order to fulfill this desire to eventually sit in one of these sketches I took it into my own hands finding a metal shop to work in, buying the raw pieces, and polishing my welding skills in order to build this piece. I then learned about sealing and patina-ing steel in order to blacken and waterproof it. Then I designed and sewed the set of cushions for the chair using thick canvas and down cushioning. I hand dyed each piece of the canvas balck and sewed them together to create one connected blanket cushion which can be draped over the sculptural steel base. I then rubberized the fabric with thick black paint in order to waterproof it and installed a series of magnets in the corners and base of the blanket so that it sticks directly onto the steel and follows the form of the curving W base easily.
This project emerged from having a sketchbook full of chair sketches for so long, but never having built or executed any of them. In order to fulfill this desire to eventually sit in one of these sketches I took it into my own hands finding a metal shop to work in, buying the raw pieces, and polishing my welding skills in order to build this piece. I then learned about sealing and patina-ing steel in order to blacken and waterproof it. Then I designed and sewed the set of cushions for the chair using thick canvas and down cushioning. I hand dyed each piece of the canvas balck and sewed them together to create one connected blanket cushion which can be draped over the sculptural steel base. I then rubberized the fabric with thick black paint in order to waterproof it and installed a series of magnets in the corners and base of the blanket so that it sticks directly onto the steel and follows the form of the curving W base easily.
01 - Rendered Testing
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The project began with turning the sketches into a detailed 3d model in order to understand the scale and necessary features better. A mockup/prototype was made digitally and physically to test the bearing and weight of sitting in the chair to confirm that the form could witstand sitting, standing, transportation or any way it may end up getting used.
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The project began with turning the sketches into a detailed 3d model in order to understand the scale and necessary features better. A mockup/prototype was made digitally and physically to test the bearing and weight of sitting in the chair to confirm that the form could witstand sitting, standing, transportation or any way it may end up getting used.
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Physical Execution
02 - Umbrella House & W Chair
In between the sketchbook to reality steps, I did a series of renderings modeling simultaneously an ideal home setting and configuration of the chairs in order to better understand the chairs, their forms, and their surroundings. This resulting in an extended design of a home I’ve called the Umbrella house. For the chairs I tried many different material and patina settings in order to find the ideal palette and texture. In the video above I was testing the idea of rusting the chairs slightly in order to waterproof them this way and achieve a “Corten” steel type of aesthetic.
03 - Additional Ideas & Renderings
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Additional imagery and renderings of the design process and resulting physical finished piece. The process to get to the final output was a long series of physical and digital tests to make sure the final outcome would work correctly.
(Chair Dimensions, Cushion & Details) (In Situ Renders & Photography)
Additional imagery and renderings of the design process and resulting physical finished piece. The process to get to the final output was a long series of physical and digital tests to make sure the final outcome would work correctly.
A004
W CHAIR
“Blackened Cold Rolled Steel Chair”
2021
Designed & Built by me in London, UK
Personal Project
W CHAIR
“Blackened Cold Rolled Steel Chair”
2021
Designed & Built by me in London, UK
Personal Project MATTHEW AVALLONE
PORTFOLIO
©2021
©2021