DESIGN _ One of the most talented designers in the last couple of years is definitely the London designer Benjamin Hubert, who has presented during the Milan design week 2013 interesting productions with some of the most prestigious brands.
Cradle is a new lounge chair with a unique blend of two typologies of seating – a net structured hammock and a conventional upholstered lounge chair.
The chair stems from the studio’s materials driven, process led, industrial design approach, research into the construction of mesh materials, and a study of the relationships between traditional seating components.
‘Cradle’ utilises a custom-made cut pattern that allows a non-elastic textile to perform in a three dimensional way. This allows for the correct tension to comfortably support the body and both visually and physically reduces the product’s weight and cost.
The chair comprises a metal frame supporting a non-elastic textile with a geometric cut pattern, which cradles an upholstered seat block.
Talma is a compact lounge chair, named after a type of cloak describes the chairs construction with a softly padded textile wrapped around a lightweight metal framework, mirroring the way a cloak would wrap the body.
The chair stems from the studio’s ‘Materials driven, process led, industrial design approach’ and research into the traditional construction of upholstered chairs with a view to reducing the material, weight and cost of this typology of product.
‘Talma’ utilises a CNC shaped steel framework to describe the shape of the chair with integrated upholstery straps for support.
The framework is wrapped with a custom made textile in collaboration with Innofa with integrated padding. The cover is secured with a series of zips and two fastenings at the front of the chair.
This combination of metal frame and padded textile allows the chair to use a minimal amount of polyurethane foam (a conventional armchair would be covered almost entirely with it) - therefore reducing the carbon footprint of the product.
Membrane is a lounge chair comprising a lightweight steel and aluminium framework with a stretched 3D woven textile mesh. The chair weighs only 3kg.
The chair stems from the studio’s materials driven, process led, industrial design approach, and research into the construction of tents and sports products with a focus on space frames and stretched textile.
‘Membrane’ utilises a CNC-shaped stainless steel and aluminium framework to describe the shape of the chair. This framework is then wrapped in a 3D woven textile with integrated padding. This construction and materiality is more commonly found in the sporting goods industry and tent construction. The cover is secured to the framework with a series of zips and fastenings.
The combination of metal frame and padded textile allows ‘Membrane’ to use a minimal amount of polyurethane foam – a conventional armchair would be covered almost entirely with foam – therefore reducing the carbon footprint of this type of product.
Benjamin Hubert (1984) leads a dedicated team of industrial designers working across a broad range of sectors including furniture, lighting, consumer goods, architectural installations and art direction. The studio has received a number of prestigious awards including: Design of the year (British Design awards 2010) Best Product (100% design/Blueprint awards 2009) Homes and Gardens Young Designer of the Year (Design Classic Awards 2010) EDIDA International Young Designer of the Year 2010, the A+W Audi Mentorpreis 2012 and the winning commission for Poltrona Frau Centenary armchair
photo credit D.Vintiner
17
13
comment