Bend

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Bend & Transition was created by Marc as part of his graduate level thesis design to complete his Master of Science degree in Environmental Design - furniture and fixtures track - at Art Center College of Design in 2015.

Bend is a Silver A' Design Award Winner for Furniture, Decorative Items and Homeware Design Category in 2015

Bend is the winner of the Sofas category in the Restaurant & Bar Product Design Awards 15/16

Bend modular seating - sofa configuration prototype.

Bend modular seating configurations with Transition center tables, indoors, outdoors and somewhere in between.

Today old boundaries are blurring. Fewer professionals have their own assigned office space and how we work is changing, too. Work can literally happen anywhere, anytime. Leisure and activity, antonyms by classic definition, have become less mutually exclusive. Modern interior spaces are commonly open environments with areas and activities delineated by furniture. Biophilic desires correlate with more types of architectural environments that seamlessly integrate the outdoors.

Bend is a modular seating system that completes Bend & Transition, a scalable and versatile seating and table ecosystem for residential, hospitality and contract common gathering areas. Beyond a typical furniture collection, Bend & Transition offers flexibility to match lifestyles in the digital age—anywhere, anytime, indoors, outdoors and somewhere in between

Modular Bend seating and Transition table configurations. Integrated Qi (inductive power standard charging) pads optional.

Bend modular seating - bench configuration.

Bend modular seating components can be scaled and arranged for numerous made-to-order manufactured configurations to accommodate any number of people in indoor and outdoor residential and public spaces. Multiple modular sections, each up to three seat-positions long, and made of extruded aluminum rails, can be linked together by pairs of die-cast legs. Bend’s symmetrical seating footprint allows seat-backs to be located or excluded to create a wide variety of configurations. For example, a tête-à-tête sofa, ganged seating units for large public lounge areas, such as in an airport, or a classic bench for an art museum gallery.

The scalable modular structure of the Bend seating system is comprised of seven basic aluminum components. The rails, link plates, and seat-back mounting brackets are extruded. The legs and corner angles are die-cast. The seat-back frames are punched or stamped. The stretcher bar parts are extruded and welded.

Bend seating - modular system.

Groupings of Bend & Transition pieces, in addition to typical right angles, were specifically created to fit together in acute and obtuse angular relationships to better delineate a variety of unique spaces. This finer degree of control over angular relationships also provides greater options for more situationally appropriate seating positions. Groups and configurations can be selected for separated individual personal zones or clustered meeting points with facing or semi-facing positions. People seated in directed positions can enhance social interaction with others, activities and events around them.

Bend seating and Transition table configurations.

Integrated Qi (inductive power standard charging) pads optional.

The Bend & Transition ecosystem is completed by a low stool, integrated side tables and free standing tables. Transition centre and pull-up tables provide two tiered surface levels. The lower surface provides an additional out-of-the-way but accessible place to tuck away devices and other objects beneath, reducing clutter. Bend modular seating offers optional integrated Transition side table surfaces with embedded Qi standard inductive smart-device charging stations in the place of seat-backs and cushions.

Indoor/outdoor fabrics.

Process: Compilation of sketches for Bend & Transition.

Process: Engineering/3D CAD modeling in Solidworks.

Process: 3D print of rail section.

Process: Prototyping - milling hard maple patterns for sand-cast aluminum legs.

Process: Prototyping - MasterCAM programming for secondary CNC milling operations on cast aluminum legs.

Process: Prototyping - secondary CNC milling operations on cast aluminum legs

Process: prototyping - cleanup on cast aluminum leg.

Process: Prototyping - aluminum rail components and leg. Right side: Manufacturing culture in Southern Californa; aluminum ring for Elon Musk's rocketship.