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Skin Chair by Madalin Gheorghe

Skin Chair by Madalin Gheorghe

Honey Adraque
March 21, 2016
1 Comment

The human skin represents the inspiration for the project. From a biological point of view, it is non-homogenous, it is organic and it adapts according to the form of the body and functionality. It varies its properties according to the local conditions. The back skin is thicker and has small pores, acting as a barrier. The face skin is thinner, acting as a filter. Yet it is the same material, no parts, no assemblies.

There has to be a really good reason to make a new chair. When a new technology comes along, allowing the designer to make a chair unique in its shape, high level of comfort and expressive design, one just knows there is a good reason to make it.

- Madalin Gheorghe

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Furniture and technology are intimately linked. With technological developments, new forms of expression and structure have become available for furniture designers and producers. Manufacturing developments are as important as material developments. Processes and materials are inextricably linked.

In a post Fordian world of micro manufacturing the designer can become the technician in control of production. Digital manufacturing represents the biggest change in the nature of mass-produced products since the industrial revolution. It has enabled a much closer relationship between the designer and the manufacturer.

- Madalin Gheorghe

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The Mediated Matter Design Research Group from MIT Media Lab, have built a robotically controlled extrusion system with multiple nozzles that can vary material properties as it prints. The material used was chitosan paste.

This technology has great potential in furniture design where the comfort and ergonomy are essential. So instead of considering the objects we make as assemblies of distinct parts with discreet functions, we can design and fabricate a chair that gradually varies its functionality by varying its thickness and elasticity. Thus the surface of the chair varies its functionality not by adding another material, but by continuously and delicately varying material properties.

- Madalin Gheorghe

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The process of creating the form started from a few contour sketches and a concept that related to the functions and ergonomy of the chair. The sensual organic result is due to a mesh relaxation algorithm. Within some boundaries set by the designer the algorithm relaxes the mesh so that it occupies most space between those boundaries by using as few material as possible.

- Madalin Gheorghe

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skin chair

About Madalin Gheorghe

Madalin Gheorghe is a technology translator who loves designing with the logic and beauty of nature in mind. You can find more of his works on his Behance profile or website.

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