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Re/Construct | UN·FORM·alized Hardwood Seating System
Re/Construct | UN·FORM·alized Hardwood Seating System
Material: Thermal Curly Wormy Maple & Ash
Studio: fourth year interior architecture studio instructed by Felicia Francine Dean
Year: Fall 2024
Design Team: Annika Layman, Abby Miller, Kiera Rupp, and Acacia Uechi
Tools: CNC, Chop Saw, Table Saw, Band Saw, Router, Spindle Sander, Orbital Sander, CNC Lathe, Drill
Derived from the history and symbolism of the columnar leg, Re/Construct is a seating system designed with columnar legs that interlock to represent unity as the stability of the future. Precedent studies, AI, sketching, and Rhino3D were used as methods to investigate the design and fabrication of this seating system that challenges formalized fabrication processes.
Photo: Francesco Lastrucc
Photo: 1st Dibbs
Concept - COLUMNAR
Concept - COLUMNAR
Rooted in Neoclassical design, this style focused on reverting back to the simpler, classic nature of geometric proportion, symmetry, and embracing ancient Roman and Greek ideals. The columnar leg interprets the principles of order, proportion, and scale that were fundamentally the basis of classical architecture. Modern versions of the columnar style include lathe turned legs and more rectilinear forms.
Materials & Finishes
Materials & Finishes
Re/Construct is constructed of ash and thermal wormy curly maple. The seat, middle leg of each stool, and stretcher were finished in a semi-gloss finish lacquer to bring about the idea of movement which flows up, down, and through the stools as a system conveying the kinetic energy between mankind and nature.
While color wasn’t distinctly used in the design of Re/Construct, the contrasting dual tones of the wood reinforce the drama and emphasis on multiple life-forms needing each other to come together to bring about stability and beauty. Bringing thin strips of the thermal wormy curly maple and ash into the stretchers and overhang of the seats was a small detail which affirmed this idea of connectivity and togetherness. Having these details consistent laterally helped to communicate the way in which the stools connect as a seating system.
Pre-design - Ergonomic Studies
Pre-design - Ergonomic Studies
While conducting precedent studies on ergonomics in seating found in spaces we regularly encounter, we studied stools and benches in order to better undertstand how human interaction and anthropometrics are important in designing furniture. The typical dimensions of a seating stool that we studied that were the most successful in the comfort levels were at widths greater than 12” wide, had a countoured seat in order to provide the most comfort levels, and were about 18“ - 22” above the floor.
We took this into account in our design, contouring the seat by ¼” to encase the curve of the human body, and designing the end stools to be different seating dimensions than the middle two stools as we realized that some ergonomic considerations come down to preference.
Design Process
Design Process
Investigating the use of PromeAI as a tool in the design process, we began our design process by gathering furniture precedents and attaching it to a prompt that we would give Ai to merge ideas and give us unformalized starting points. Taking our results from PromeAI, we sketched out collective concepts that integrated the components of the columnar leg design and symbolism and into a seating system. To finalize our dimensions and create our cut sheet, we modeled this system in Rhino 3D.
Ai Studies
Ideation Sketches
3D Modeling in Rhino
Fabrication Process
Fabrication Process
The construction process involved cutting and planing the wood to prep for finish cuts and CNC carving. We had to glue up the 1.5” thick thermal wormy curly maple to bring it to the needed dimension for the CNC to carve out the contour and outline of our seats. We kept the scrap material to implement into details of the seat.
We then took all of the ash to the table saw and cut them to their finish dimensions (one exception being the legs which were to be carved using the CNC router needed to account for extra material). We created a template and used that to mark and cut the geometries on the legs which were shaped using the bandsaw. We cut and glued slivers of the leftover thermal wormy curly maple and ash sandwiched together to create the details on the stretcher and the end seat overhangs.
We sanded down each piece in a series of 80, 120, and 220 grit using an orbital sander and hand sanding. Then we used the Festool domino tool to create our joinery.
Getting the domino alignment perfect and gluing up the stools to be square was our most difficult challenge throughout the process. With the two middle stools being asymmetrical, we had to make a jig-like structure to ensure the clamping would not warp the stool. We then applied three coats of our finish–sanding in between coats, to bring the stools to their final condition.
Final Pieces
Final Pieces
Meet the Designers
Meet the Designers
This project was designed and fabricated in collaboration with Kiera Rupp, Abby Miller, and Annika Layman. Utilizing each other's strengths for design development and to streamline fabrication processes was a major success. Working with this team of accomplished designers was a highlight in this project.
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