Equissse Number 1

Esquisse number 2

Week 3

Here are some photos I have taken of the chair I purchased from a second hand furniture shop on Chapel Street. I bought it for $45. I chose this chair because it has character, is very comfortable and I believe redesigning it could greatly enhance both of those main aspects and more. The chair has a wooden base crafted using some wood bending techniques. The feature that caught my eye was the curves, especially on the armrests. The curves look like a wave and are an interesting aesthetic to an otherwise straightforward looking chair. The sides of the chair are asymmetrical and the lines of the chair are all angled which is great. The angles create a slightly sleek look of a low-rider chair that resembles that of a rocking chair. The chair has a spring-loaded support system attached with hooks that screw into the frame. Over the years, these hooks have started to come lose and are a little sketchy now. The spring system itself however is well constructed and creates a very comfortable chair. By having the spring system as the base and the backrest, the user is very comfortable no matter what their height. This is a great feature as it does away with the need for adjustability or the guestimates of the average user. The material upholstered on the chair and cushion is Cotton wadding with synthetic rubber hair. The foam inside is comfortable but definitely on its way out. The wood itself, is a fairly light timber in colour and in weight. The wood is turned nicely and the round edges accentuate the curves throughout the chair, especially the armrests. This chair was part of a set of armchairs and probably would have been expensive in its day. It was built in Sunshine, Victoria,  Australia. 

Photo Essay

Early CAD mockups



Assignment 1

 List A

Alvar Aalto                                                             Marcel Breuer

Both Alvar and Marcel Have revolutionised the way furniture is designed today. At the time (early 1900s) their visions and designs both consisted of similar materials, mainly plywood and tubular steel. Both of them used cantilever designs to create some of their earlier products. Both of them also had a strong understanding of special perception when it came to furniture, the ability to move their furniture to make room when needed. Alvar created stools in which can be stacked to save space, whereas Marcel opted for the folding option, both space saving ideas, now used on a daily basis throughout the world.

 List B

Eero Aarnio                                                                     Pierre Paulin

The Mid-20^th century saw designers such as Eero Aarnio and Pierre Paulin experimenting with plastics to crate particularly the framework and structure. Both Eero and Pierre used high walled sides that looked to encapsulate the user of the furniture. The use of cushions inside plastic frames also had functional value as they could be washed. Pierre liked to upholster the outside of his furniture creating a comfortable looking design. The use of organic shapes and curves really brought these designers into the spotlight. Eero also included the use of a cup holder into his formula1 chair. 

List C

Frank Gehry                                                               Mario Bellini

Frank Gehry and Mario Bellini have very different approaches to modern design, Frank uses a new twist on come of the more conventional ideas such as cantilever chairs, whereas Mario upholsters his furniture with his own flair, such as the flicked up ends to his couches. While Frank likes to use materials such as plywood to give a minimalist design aspect to his framework, Mario usually covers his framework with upholstery to give a solid, timeless look to his furniture. Mario’s furniture gives a real high class vibe whereas Frank’s furniture gives off more of an interesting individual styled vibe.