Furniture as objects of our time
BY PEDRO LIMA
introduction
C
hances are, cavemen weren’t sitting on an eight-way hand tied plush Recamier when they lit the first fire, but have our needs really changed over time when it comes to furniture and seating? We still sit the same way, our hips and knees still bend in order for our bodies to rest, so why and how has furniture design changed and developed so much over time? Is furniture design really all that different now then what it was millions of years ago, and how will it continue to adapt and evolve as we do? What issues and challenges will the furniture industry face, and what are some of the responses we can expect to see as our needs continue to change in the future? Comfort, design, and availability do not necessarily hold mutually exclusive dance cards, as they have in the past when it comes to furniture design. Design has experienced a resurgence of priority as a result of environmental, social, and political issues, and the development of furniture design is a truly fascinating topic as seen from different points of view. While our research and understanding of ergonomics has improved, so has furniture become more comfortable. Technological developments continue to increase the wealth of possibilities for manufacturing and design, with new materials and concepts being developed. With an increasing global population, and emphasis on individuality, the need for unique and vast amounts of furniture will continue to grow. As demand increases, and space becomes more coveted, the furniture industry will continue to respond with new and innovative design solutions. This book examines precedents and milestones in furniture design and manufacturing. Design ideas are presented in this book which express innovation, and attempt to show a full spectrum of possibilities and points of view on where the future of furniture design is going.
Table of contents: furniture as:
architectural form individualistic expression modularism parametric integration repurposing small spaces technological integration
architectural form
furniture as architectural form
furniture as:
As interior designers and ar-
chitects continue to shape space, an interdisciplinary approach is becoming more and more prominent. Architectural form is increasingly becoming part of the adorned objects that designers are choosing to focus on. Whereas interior decoration/design and architecture used to focus on totally different elements within a space, interior designers and architects are becoming more and more comfortable crossing the traditional boundary of scope of work. Architects are often charged with furniture design and detailing, and interior designers are often asked to create architectural solutions. The result is a melding of form, architecture, and object.
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The ceiling canopy and free-standing desk mirror each other, creating an integrated architectural form with objects within the space.
furniture as architectural form
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Integration of display fixtures and vertical surfaces meld form and object in this wine store.
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Sofa forms are built into the architectural design requiring careful planning by the designer.
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Seating in this lobby is formed out of solid wood blocks, integrating the form and technology with the television screens attached.
furniture as architectural form
Furniture is built into the wall on the left of the photo, finished with beautiful wood veneers.
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Architectural form creates a dominant focal point in this interior with the unpeeling of the overhead shell.
This pod unit houses the bed, storage, and study area all into one furniture piece.
Integration of sleeping spaces are achitectural form is seen in these top four examples. Curved architectural forms and shapes create a balanced integration of objects into these four spaces. Use of bold colors accentuate the architectural forms.
furniture as architectural form
Retail display fixtures and furniture are integrated into the architectural form of the space. Even the lighting mimics the shapes created in the fixture and desk design.
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Night stands become chairs in this design, and both are integrated into the fram of the bed.
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Front view of the bed shows how furniture form melds various functions and uses, breaking the traditional notion of headboard, foorboard, and night stands.
furniture as architectural form
This upholdered room is its own furniture piece, and can create a space within any space. Coordinating ottomans carry the idea through the space as floating obects which tie together the fabrics.
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Close up view of textile design.
The floating desk creates a sense of integration between furniture and architecture.
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furniture as architectural form
individualistic expression
furniture as individualistic expression
furniture as:
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Moreso then ever, we idenitify and define ourselves by
what we posses. Never has furnitUre been so epxressive in design and personality, and readily avaialbe to consumers at lower price points. With the advent of HGTV and other design “pop culture� reality television shows, design has been marketed to the masses, and in true form, we have adapted by making our furniture pieces expressions of who we are as people, and how we want to be seen.
Felt rocks and faux birds nest create fun and imaginative furniture settings for children and adults to express themselves.
Urban city folk might appreciate the opportunity to have a garden on a small pedestal that can fit in any corner.
furniture as individualistic expression
People will do anything for thier pets, including building their home inside the family coffee table.
The ballet coffee table is both expressive and functional as it holds magazines in its toutou ruffles. It might be well suited in the home of a dancer or in a small urban apartment as a whimisical piece.
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The desk and chairs are both sinuous and sensual with their curved shapes, allowing for expression
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This integrated bookcase has strong graphic qualities, which allow the user to be expressive and enjoy the curvacious lines and simplicity.
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New ways of seeing the traditional chair arm and leg, with bold colors as accents.
Espressive of each persons personality, this bedding can change based on the mood, and what emotion is desired. It’s a creative way to personalize bedding.
furniture as individualistic expression
The molded shape is quite expressive and flamboyent. It’s a new take on a traditional rocking chair. It’s shown in a spare interior.
Pets are playfully integrated into furniture designs. As well fun color and expressive motifs are stiched onto the storage chests. Bold colors and forms are used to express personalities and moods. Artwork is highly customized to reflect the owners tastes and preferences. Any image can now be made into an iconic knock off of Warhol’s Maryily Monroe portrait.
furniture as individualistic expression
Stuffed animals are used in place of end tables, seen grazing on a green shag rug. Faux antelers are also seen with expressive colors on the side chairs.
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This chair comes ready to assemble and personalize in a solid sheet. It can be painted or covered to become expressive.
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The bookcase has a fabric front which loops on the side to close. It’s a unique and creative approach to the standard bookcase.
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This tree bookcase is grows roots in the organic interior with exposed wood beam and natural finishes.
This fun and playful bed provides a unique playground for children to read and play, inside a book.
furniture as individualistic expression
Expressive of our patriotic sentiment, this bookcase ecompasses the shape of all 50 states and the outline of the United States.
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furniture as individualistic expression
modularism
furniture as modularism
furniture as:
Modular furniture and sys-
tems are on the rise. With increased global consumption, and personalization becoming more necessary, manufacturers have responded by creating modular furniture in every genre and pricepoint. Modular furniture is popluar because it allows for adaptation and fliexibility with our changing needs and lifestyle. Modular furniture typically has much longer life cycles then traditional furniture, because as the end user’s needs change, so can the form and shape of the furniture be modified. In addition, modular furniture typically ships “knock down�, meaning it is unassembled, which takes much less space then pre assembled furniture.
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This modular wall system allows for great flexibility and versatility if future needs change. It can be broken into smaller components or move to almost any wall with a small clear span.
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furniture as modularism The modular sofa provides massive seating function without the unwanted visual mass that could become overpowering in a commercial space.
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Modular furniture can satisy many different functions, ensuring it will meet the needs of the user over time. This bookcase also doubles as a bench.
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2 Many forms of modular furniture are available, in all prices, making it affordable for almost everyone.
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Modular bed system, for children, roommates, or couples.
Modular library shelving in a commercial setting also can look great. Modular upholstery provides tremendous versatility and variety. Modular cardboard allows for a miriad of configurations, and is accessible to many people at a very low price point. Additionally, it has a very small eco footprint, and is totally biodegradle when it’s life cycle is over.
furniture as modularism
Modular systems shown here are inexpensive and house vegitation. It can be configured as a wall unit, room divider, or free standing furniture pieces. As well it provide storage and a work surface. This wall system is extremely versatile.
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This four unit modular upholstery piece is very verstatile, and allows for many different types of uses, including sleeping, lounging, and entertaining.
This modular freestanding desk is great for small offices where things can be tucked away out of sight at a moments notice.
furniture as modularism
More examples of the modular systems use, seen as a storage room divider, or freestanding furniture. This unit will last many years as it will ensure to meet the needs of the user at various stages of its life cycle.
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Modular sofa can adapt to become both seating and sculpture. It also accomodates all types of seating needs, including lounging and conversational needs.
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This modular sofa is great for large spaces where multiple seating arrangements are essential, such as in a hotel lobby. It can be easily and quickly adjusted to accomodate many types of arrangements.
furniture as modularism This modular sofa provides extensive seating and conversational areas while also accomodating lounging in the enclosed ottoman area. Large seating expanses do not appear massive because of the low back and elevated legs.
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Modular wall unit can be broken into pieces or kept together, it provides a very versatile configuration.
This upholstery configuration affords two seating groupings, while also doubling as lounge areas where one can lie back or sleep.
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Modular bench can also convert to a storage bookcase.
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Modular components can double as a bookcase or bed.
parametric integration
furniture as parametric integration
furniture as:
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Parametric design is a new form of architecture, where
the shell of the object can double as structural support. In architectural design, buildings typically stand up with the aid of columns, and slabs are stacked on columns with glazing covering the walls. This techtonic type of architecture requires many pieces and parts coming together to create the building. Parametric design strives to lessen the components of form, so the shell not only creates the shape and form, but also creates the structural support.
The table base shown has a complex morphing shape, which melds into the top, creating a parametic form.
The legs of the chair morph into the form of the seat and back to create a parametric and singular form.
furniture as parametric integration
The lamp and chair surfaces shown are both structural and parametric, creating singular objects void of any seam or componentry.
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This desk has some parametric qualities but is quite techtonic in that many components and units are connected together with hardward. A truly parametric form has ony one surface.
furniture as parametric integration
Parametric concpets are used in this free formed single surface chair.
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This bench has parametric qualities, but yet the attached componentry make it very techtonic and complex.
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Complex parametric shapes and forms anre seen in these beautiful and sculptural benches.
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The base of the table is seen melding into the top as parametric qualities are evident. Form and structure are graciously integrated.
furniture as parametric integration
The forms of these benches double as both structural support and decorative objects.
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Parametric shapes and form create both architecture and furniture in this space.
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furniture as parametric integration
Plastic is an excellent material for parametric shapes, because it can be molded easily. A plastic parametric chair is seen here. Corian is excellent material for parametric forms as well because it is very strong as a structural skeleton, and can take any form. Entire interior environments are often created using corian, inclusive of architecture and furniture.
furniture as parametric integration
Corian with colored light is used to create beautiful and dynamic spaces. Corian can be molded into any shape which the mold can create, and therefore is likely to be a material which will be used more commonly in years to come.
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Similar forms are seen in architectural and furniture design. Parametric concepts are applied to both the chair and room.
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Parametric forms are created in the furniture and architecture, which tie the floor, walls, and ceiling together.
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Architectural form and furniture are integrated together in the corian hotel prototype space.
This parametric bed is made from corian, and has a organic and continuous shell.
furniture as individualistic expression
This hotel prototype room is completely made from corian, a common material for parametric spaces and objects.
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Parametric concepts on are integrated into the architecture and chair shapes through a continuous skin and form.
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Parametric furniture is created in molds, and can take any form imaginable. Shown below is a chair and a coffee table.
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View of parametric hotel prototype made out of corian. Rounded forms are made with molds.
furniture as parametric integration
This beautifully molded parametric desk ties two spaces together and is a genious expression of parametric continuity both literally and conceptually.
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The white chair is both techtonic and parametric, through its many components and organic shapes. It takes inspiration from Art Nouveau forms as well.
furniture as parametric integration
Bent wood is beautifully curved to create an organic and parametric form, both structurally and visually it is one single object with no techtonic componentry.
Parametic concepts can be applied to both furniture and architecture. The restaurant beautifully integrates the architecture and furniture together, as the floor pulls up off its horizontal plane, and then folds to create tabletops, and the vertical wall surfaces. It’s a great example of parametric design in both architecture and furniture.
furniture as parametric integration
The bookcase applies techtonic concepts as each component is digitally designed and formed. Techtonic principles are applied as the forms are combined and assembled to create one single bookcase.
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Parametric forms and concpets are integrated in the corian room, designed by Zaha Hadid.
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furniture as parametric integration
Parametric concepts are seen in these coffee tables and the morphed room, where the walls are actually molded to become seating.
furniture as parametric integration
SIngular surfaces are seen in the chair, table, and wall below, creating parametric design.
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The highly decorative octopus chair is made from molded plastic, and is only possible through parametric ideals, however it is techtonic because of its many components..
furniture as parametric integration
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Parametric forms create the hotel suite above, while the shell of the bench below is both decorative, and sturcturally supportive.
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repurposing
furniture as repurposing
furniture as:
Furniture
follows trends in manufacturing and architecture, as well as social and environmental factors. In order to consume less new materials, furiture manufacturers and consumers are recycling just about eveything, and repurposing for just about anything. Two approaches to repurposing are common. One school of thought reuses traditional materials of furniture design, such as wood, and gives objects a second lifecycles in more traditionally used ways. The other school uses totally non traditional materials, such as rubber or cardboard, and repurposes them into furniture design, in ways never before seen. It’s an exciting time to be a designer and see what extraordinary and innovative concepts are possible.
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The tire above is remade into a display case, with a glass top put inside the tire opening. Cardboard is seen in the bed design below, and can be resused for any other furniture type later on.
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furniture as repurposing
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Wood is reused all the time after its first life cycle is over. More so then ever we see tables, chairs, and cabinets made from reused wood. In the case of the table above, scraps were glued together to create the piece.
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Anything can be repurposed and reused. The wrench table uses old tools from a factory to create furniture.
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furniture as repurposing
Plastic crates are reconfigured to create seating and storage units. These would also be considered modular pieces. The tire chandelier is a brilliant example of repurposing materials in totally non-traditional ways. Crystals are added to the bottom to add elegance and dress it up.
furniture as repurposing
Bicycle wheels are used to create the chair above. Airplane parts are repurposed to create the desk. Pipes and architectural fittings are seen below to create very minimal bookcase. Lightbulbs are used to create candlesticks.
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The pipe seen here is a great example of reusing materials in innovative ways. The coffee table top uses old bottles covered with a glass top.
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The chair below uses shotgun shells on its seat and back, almost anything can be resused and repurposed in furniture design.
furniture as repurposing The pipe and fittings are very cleverly used as a bookshelf in a small space. It’s a great solution for flexible storage that can be moved in the future as well.
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While we don’t know for sure that this wood is scrapwood, it builds onthe trend that furniture should be made from recycled materials.
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Airplane parts are used in the barstools above. Bombshells are seen to the left to create the bathtub.
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Scraps and rags are bound together to create this rag chair.
small spaces
furniture in small spaces
furniture in:
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The proverbial migration from country to city living has
for hundreds of years brought about changes in furniture design and architecture. With more people living in cities internationally then ever before, we are seeing changes in the capabilities of furniture to do more then just serve one function. Stretching function means that furniture has to be multi use, and take advantage of each surface to maximize its service.
The beautiful wood wardrobe is a big shift from the bulky “armoire� which was common just twenty years ago.
furniture in small spaces
Inteiror of the sleep pod, affords a quiet sleep and work zone.
The tiny chair on the left provides both active seating and work zones, along with passive storage spaces. The sleeping pod provides an encolsed capsule for a quick cat nap while away from home.
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Any small space could house and take advantage of this chair, which doubles as seating, work surface, and storage.
furniture in small spaces
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The bed has always been one of the largest furniture pieces in small spaces. The bed seen below folds up to allow the room to be used for more then just sleeping.
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Small nightstand creates storage and display surfaces. The desk above pushes down to reveal a bed behind it.
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This kitchen in the core of the apartment would typically have no natural light. However with the furniture like design, this kitchen compactly maximizes storage while also maintaining visual continuity throughout the space.
furniture in small spaces
The folding chair below takes up very space while also integrating lighting.
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Kitchen in the core of the apartment allows the small space to feel very open, and houses tremendous function.
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furniture in small spaces
This compact desk houses all the functions necessary to any home office.
This ladder dresser is incredibly funtional, as it is both narrow and tall. It maximises the vertical space and could be used in any small room with a tall ceiling. Additionally because of the doors and drawer fronts, all the storage is concealed which helps hide clutter.
furniture in small spaces
The small desk above is both a writing desk, cork board, storage, and laptop desk. The ladder storage unit takes tremendous advantage of traditionally wasted vertical space.
technological advancement
furniture and technological integration
furniture and:
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Technological advancement has improved the quality
of our lives in many ways. However with the development of new technology, there are new challenges in how this technology integrates into our daily lives. While these advancements are meant to simplify and improve our lives, they are only as good as they are accessible to most of us. Shown here are various solutions and innovations as furniture and technology continue to be integrated.
These coffee tables integrate technology in different ways. The upper table has built in storage and chargers for a laptop, while the lower table houses the remote control.
furniture and technological integration
Top: Automatic rocking chair. Center: Touchscape coffee table. Lower: Television lift installed inside cabinet to integrate the television.
The television is integrated into the upper cabinet of this kitchen. The coffee table has a touch screen which contols various features in the room, integrating the furniture and technology
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This rocking chair generates electricity based on the movement of the rocking function.
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The coffee table integrates a charging station and a touch control system for the room. It has a very modern and sleek look.
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This park bench offers free wifi and is a “hotspot� for tweeting.
Technology is integrated into the coffee table as the touchscreen controls various technological features in the room.
furniture and technological integration
Technology is integrated into this media stand as the TV lowers into the cabinet. The low height is quite unusual for a TV lift cabinet.
Technology is integrated into the desk with the CPU and printer stand on the side. The coffee table has touch-screen technology. This rocking chair actually generates electricity as it is used.
furniture and technological integration
The coffee table actually opens to reveal a computer inside. Below is a homemade docking station for iphone users where a clever idea integrates technology with natural materials.