Where better to start with some inspiration for my Sit + Store multifunctional chair than this Vitra Design Museum poster, purchased on a trip to Amsterdam a while back.
For my designs, I will look to these classics for inspiration on form, material, construction and colour.
Open Book Resting Chair
For my first design ‘Open Book Resting Chair’ I have taken inspiration from the Papp series of chairs below, a design by Peter Raackke made from cardboard – and also the Gruppo Dam Libro chair a soft foam and vinyl chair with folding elements
My design will take on a Scandinavian look and contemporary feel to it, with a cushioned seat upholstered in a fabric while the base will be made from wood or possibly a veneer plywood.
Not overcrowded with books or magazines, simple slots in the side for storage to keep a minimal look and feel to this piece.
This will be a chair perfect for the home and won’t look out of place in a commercial, retail or hotel lobby environment.
Cross Frame
Cross Frame is a concept based simply on the ‘plus’ symbol in Sit + Store furniture. It has the potential to be used in many environments including workspaces, libraries or schools.
A simple frame structure constructed with possibly wood and plastic along with portable seating blocks or cubes along the base that can be easily removed for informal group gatherings or simply somewhere to have a quiet read or catch up.
In keeping with the flexibility of the mainframe, I will look at using a lightweight material for the stools, possibly plastic, material that is hardwearing, durable and easy to manage.
The idea for the mainframe is for it to be hassle free construction, delivered as a flat piece which will open up to house the cubes below with separate panels/shelves for book storage.
My inspiration has been taken from my love of the Rubix cube – the colours are bright and vibrant like the classic Gerrit Rietveld’s Buegel Stoel, made from steel frames, and laminated wood, I love how he has used molded steel to create interesting and different angles in this design.
Glenn T Behan 