PLC
Plywood Design Chair
Plywood Design Chair
The PLC project was initiated following the briefing of “making chairs”, in which the industrial character of the objectis considered as more important. Looking at the Portuguese market and industry, was also called into question the type of technology used, planning a production of a small or medium series of the project developed. The choice ofthe briefing “making chairs” also arises from the reflection of what is the identity of Portuguese Industrial Products. It appeared the intention of designing a chair that reveals an industrial character, being a reflection of the technology and systematization of the project. It was intended to follow this line of reasoning in contrast to the stillvery “Craft-made” look of Portuguese Design.
Keeping the rigidity of the briefing, functionand effectiveness requisites were that served as a starting point for the definition of the project. The typology chosen was the lowchair, suitable for use both at home and public spaces of consumption and leisure, particularly cafes. The chair would be stackable for space saving storage, never compromising comfort or aesthetics of it. The typology itself gives the chaira “visual empathy” and its simplicity, coupled with the graphics of the laminate and a reduced thickness of parts gives elegance to the chair,without ever compromising its industrial character.Veneers are considered mahogany or pine, according to the desired shade of finish.
Using only two profiles in plywood, it was possible to pin down all the elements of the chair. The design of elements allows a greater use of pre-forming piece created, resulting in reduced waste of raw materials. Having regard to the use of CNC technology, we decided to include the grooves in the design of each element of the chair, using only one pin as a “guide” into place. Thus, after the phase of pre-machining of the profiles conformed, the phase of assembly is made soon after. In the first analysis, the PLC project has potential for industrial production of low to medium series. The use of only two technologies (plywood molding and CNC for cuts and holes), allows the investment in machinery to be reduced, adjusting to small business.
