Chair

Where the stool grew out of the Itsukushima torii, the chair grows out of the stool. It shares its turned, tapered legs and joinery left in view, and gives me room to explore those elements further. The back is held between uprights that continue past it, a detail carried over from the gate.

I am also drawn to Gio Ponti's Superleggera and the way it combines strength with lightness. It is the same quality that drew me to the gate, but in a more direct and practical sense: a chair that is light, yet strong enough to trust.

The seat and back are woven in paper cord. The oak frame is meant to last, while the woven surfaces can be renewed as they wear.

The first prototype, woven in blue cord, is not sturdy enough for my taste. I am now working out how to add strength, testing whether one or two stretchers between the legs will do it, without adding much weight. The aim is a chair that feels steady and trustworthy while staying light.