This year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) ended up being a mega affair for distinct furnishings designs. Several students from the University of Iowa’s 3D design program also provided their designs. One such is the Brayton chair by Cory Christiansen, which takes its design hints from a staircase. That read weird, best? Let us discuss: the chair makes use of the experience of reclining on a staircase, equating the sensation to a useful seat.
The concept was born from the casual experience of reclining on a staircase. Christiansen considered that experience a soft seat in addition to a backrest, armrest, and footrest after realizing that the natural geometric increase and run of a staircase uses the same functions. The style bridges the gap in between rigid architecture and human anatomy, challenging standard furniture archetypes by proving that comfort can be discovered in angular, non-traditional forms also.
The chair imitates the stepped profile of a staircase, producing a highly sculptural, non-traditional accent piece. It features multi-level surface areas integrated into a single cohesive unit, where different airplanes serve distinct purposes: sitting, leaning, and resting. The visual balances a strong, geometric existence with the welcoming warmth of a soft-seat lounge chair, making it stick out as practical art.
The creation of the Brayton chair transitioned from physical exploration to high-end digital manufacturing. The process started with initial sketches and small wooden block designs to draw up the scale. Christiansen built a physical cardboard model and utilized 3D printing to evaluate the stability and ergonomics of the stepped structure.
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The chair was then meticulously designed utilizing Rhino3D CAD software, drawing up accurate specs and building plans. The physical piece includes a customized wood base as the primary structural structure, coupled with accurate joinery to support the user’s weight. It is completed with premium soft upholstery to contrast the difficult architectural lines with tactile high-end.
The Brayton chair was handpicked to be displayed as part of the prestigious ICFF x WantedDesign Introduce Pad classification, which shines a spotlight on emerging independent designers and fresh talent.
Image: Cory Christiansen Image: Cory Christiansen