Chair Design

“Velo”, or Chair Porn. Not That Kind of Porn. Get your Mind out the Gutter.

It’s been awhile since I have posted any chair porn, so here you go. Velo designed by Jan Waterston is a solid example of how taking a good creative concept and executing properly can reinvent an ordinary item creating intriguing beauty.

Velo 1

The chair has been redefined by Waterson as a sinuous piece of furniture with a sculptural, yet inviting presence. It is a demonstration of  master craftsmanship and creativity as it becomes a flowing form that wraps around the seated form. When not in use it is an object of art, a sculptural piece of wood that is visually dynamic, even though it is a static object.

Waterson says the beauty the chair was  inspired by the flowing forms of bicycles, “This relationship between body and object is echoed in bicycle design with tubes flowing seamlessly into one another, constantly changing shape, to improve function and aesthetic”. 

Velo is hand sculpted from ash and features seamless construction, which is a testament to the Waterson’s woodworking skills Each element of the chair blend into one another, making the Velo seem as though it is crafted from a single piece of wood.

velo 4

velo 3

velo 2

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This Chair Fired Up My Synapses.

When it comes to furniture design, there really haven’t been that many game changers in the last twenty years. Nothing like we saw from the end of the 1940’s through the late 1960’s. Today’s materials, processes, and designs for the most part are based on something that was pioneered by designers from the past. I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me on this, but it is pretty rare when something really new happens in the world of furniture design these days. I think that is why I like “Synapse” from designer Andrew Perkins.

This might not be ground breaking, but the use of materials and the structural design of the chair impressed me. I love the fact that the chair is held together with two stainless steel components, which not only form the joints of the chair, but create a spring like cushion as well.

The chair has clean elegant lines. It’s stackable. the choice in materials is wonderful. Attention to detail and construction looks amazing. It might not be earth shattering in terms of new materials, or construction methods, but it is a breath of fresh air in a space that is flooded with spin offs on the same old, same old.

Structural comfort and thoughtful use of materials are at the heart of this piece. All the necessary joints of a chair are distilled into one component. The stainless steel component allows the chair to stack and provides a measure of spring to the user.

Andrew Perkins