The curvilinea carpentry of the landscape. Ondarreta Silu Chair by Unstudio
14/05/2020.
[Oyarzun] Spain
metalocus, AGUSTÍN GAMARRA
metalocus, AGUSTÍN GAMARRA
“We wanted a chair whose stability, lightness and ergonomics would respond to our engineering exercises, in which we did not wrinkle in the face of the difficulties of reproducing complex curvatures and promoting organicity in large projects. That it was sustainable, pure, with the best of design that allows us to think about the future but with the nobility of wood as a material and the accumulated experience of the past.”
Ben van Berkel
The idea that it is only a unique and attractive piece does not escape the corresponding functionality and efficiency before, during and after its manufacture. The sustainability of the wood is made up of a mechanized and curved solid oak wood frame during an experimental process of pressing and vaporizing. An oak casing with variable thickness of 16mm and 22mm thickness made up of twenty sheets worked to optimize bending and alternate arrangements to improve resistance.
The final finishes are distributed between the piece made of polypropylene for stacking that adjusts to the curvature emptying in the back section of the upholstered backrest, which varies depending on the foam padding of the seat or the simplicity of the direct wood that adapts. to the human form. Finally, the finish is given with pigmented enamel and a final coat of transparent dye with a silky touch. A sequence of subtle procedures, taking care of the stylized format of the chair in form and utility.
UNStudio, founded in 1988 by Ben van Berkel and Caroline Bos, is a Dutch architectural design studio specialising in architecture, interior architecture, product design, urban development and infrastructural projects. The name, UNStudio, stands for United Network Studio referring to the collaborative nature of the practice.
Throughout 30 years of international project experience, UNStudio has continually expanded its capabilities through prolonged collaboration with an extended network of international consultants, partners, and advisors across the globe. This network, combined with the centrally located offices in Amsterdam, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Frankfurt, enables UNStudio to work efficiently anywhere in the world. With already 120 built projects in Asia, Europe, and North America, the studio continues to expand its global presence with recent commissions in among others China, South-Korea, Qatar, Germany and the UK.
As a network practice, a highly flexible methodological approach has been developed which incorporates parametric designing and collaborations with leading specialists in other disciplines. The office has worked internationally since its inception and has produced a wide range of work ranging from public buildings, infrastructure, offices, residential, products, to urban masterplans.
Current projects include the design for Doha's Integrated Metro Network in Qatar, the mixed-use FOUR development in Frankfurt, the wasl Tower in Dubai and the Southbank by Beulah development in Melbourne. Pivotal realised projects include the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, Arnhem Central Station, Raffles City Hangzhou in China, the Mobius House in the Netherlands and the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. UNStudio has received many awards, the last ones being Red Dot Award product design (2013), Media Architecture Award (2012), National Steel Prize (2012) and 28th International Lighting Design Awards Collector’s Loft (2012).