Thonet No. 14 Project (1): Amos Field Reid

Thonet-no-14-Drum-2-by-Amos-Field-Reid
Amos Field Reid pointed me to the Thonet no. 14 project where 6 young UK based designers marked the 150th anniversary of the Thonet no. 14 in 2009 by replacing only the seats. More can be read on WC Frank’s site.

The challenge was to find a balance between pragmatic restoration and sympathetic innovation.
The tensioned Drum seat features an interpretation of the pattern that once adorned many of the Thonet plywood seats, is high on comfort, low in weight and can be fitted without tools. As a simple ­organic material that lasts and ages well, leather seemed a match for the chairs aged beech limbs, whilst the strapping shares the bolt-it-together pragmatism typical of Thonet’s constructions.
This piece was produced in collaboration with leather craftsman Justin Parker.

Lace your own Crate Hammock together

DIY Hammock - Paracord-Laced-Pallet-Hanging-Chair

Just strip a pallet, apply some para cord and there you hang. Look at Tools and Materials to see how to create this DIY Crate Hammock.

Hide Away Furniture Type 01 by Dunne and Raby

Hide Away Chair
Hide-Away-Furniture-Type-01-by-Dunne-and-Raby
Hide Away Furniture by Dunne and Raby, Anthony Dunne and Fiona Raby in collaboration with Michael Anastassiades.

‘Hide Away Furniture, Type 01’, 2005

Laminated English oak, felt. Chair: 90.2 cm (35 1/2 in) high; flooring: 3.8 × 295 × 202 cm (1 1/2 × 116 1/8 × 79 1/2 in) From an edition of three. From the ‘Designs for Fragile Personalities in Anxious Times’ series.

ESTIMATE £10,000-15,000 †

There are three versions. Like the other pieces in the collection, they are designed to meet irrational but real needs, in this case, a fear of alien abduction.

via Phillips de Pury & Company.

About Dunne and Raby

Dunne & Raby use design as a medium to stimulate discussion and debate amongst designers, industry and the public about the social, cultural and ethical implications of existing and emerging technologies.

Anthony is professor and head of the Design Interactions department at the Royal College of Art in London. He studied Industrial Design at the RCA before working at Sony Design in Tokyo. On returning to London he completed a PhD in Computer Related Design at the RCA. He was a founding member of the CRD Research Studio where he worked as a Senior Research Fellow leading EU and industry funded research projects. Anthony was awarded the Sir Misha Black Award for Innovation in Design Education in 2009.

Fiona Raby studied Architecture at the RCA before working for Kei’ichi Irie Architects in Tokyo. She also holds an MPhil in Computer Related Design from the RCA. She was a founding member of the CRD Research Studio where she worked as a Senior Research Fellow leading externally funded research projects. She taught in Architecture for over 10 years before teaching in Design Interactions.

SOS by Josh Owen for Casamania, Explained

SOS-Stools

Casamania’s Josh Owen on the inspiration and idea behind his SOS stool. The video explains and shows how to use the stool’s “hook” to its best advantage and also reveals one little design “secret”.

Skullduggery by Georgina Brett Chinnery

Having seen the skull chair by Pool being received by you so well, I was reminded of this other skull themed chair I came across a few years back and kept a photo of saved on my computer. Let me introduce you to the Skullduggery chair by Georgina Brett Chinnery who designs for her own “interior couture” firm Bombarock in the UK.

Initially working in fabrics using skull prints and experimenting with textural applications, Georgina exhibited her ‘Skullduggery’ chair at the 2006 London Design Festival. At London Design Festival 2008 Georgina showed her signature style of upholstery using skulls and tattoo roses. The new collection of decorative leather furniture, showing a more artisan approach to her work will be exhibited in May 2011 at Collect.