The shape of the Gaudi Stool was created in the same way that Antoní Gaudi designed the structure
of his churches, by making a model of hanging chains, so letting gravity determine the strongest and
most logical shape for withstanding forces.
High-end techniques and materials were used to be able
to apply Gaudi’s methods in lightweight furniture.
Although Gaudi’s buildings are expressive and
impressing, Gaudi created logical and thoughtful structures, and often looked at nature and physics to show him the
right shapes and designs.
When a chain hangs in between two supports, it will
follow a line defined by gravity. This is the catenary.
When this line is reversed, a strong form for taking
compressive forces emerges.
Antoni Gaudi used this principle to determine the
shapes of his buildings. He made scale models consisting of hanging chains, which upside down,
showed the structure of the building.
A
model of chains also showed me the most logical shape for this stool.
Materials and techniques:
The stool consists of a shell made out of
carbon-fiber, and a substructure which was made using 3D-printing techniques.
The product weights exactly 1KG.
Patrick Jouin