Modern Materials
Although within the brief it does specify that materials ideally would like to be used from the UK. I thought that it would be really important to look at other types of new and modern materials. These materials maybe not from the UK, but can still help with generating my ideas and it doesn't mean to say that the concepts could be simulated with UK materials in mind. Below are a few examples of some modern materials that I have researched into.
Elastic Wood
This is a material that combines wood and plastic together. These two materials are used to complete and enhance each others characteristics. here, wood is used for its compatibility for home furniture - its touch and warm aesthetic - while the elastic material is used for the purpose of transforming the 2D spread into a 3D shape. the combination of the two materials adds the aspect of flexibility to a typically rigid piece of furniture produced in wood.
Below the slide show shows a few more examples of these two materials being combined. Could I incorporate this idea within my own designs? Using Wood and Plastics from the UK. Is it necessary? Would the plastic support and aid more comfort for the user? A bendy seat or back could be a option? Or could the plastic merely be used to help fold the chairs away. If so, it would have to be made differently to this type of chair above otherwise it is going to take someone a extremely long time to disassemble the chairs one by one - this certainly would not be practical.
Flex Chair
This is called the Flex Chair again combining Wood and Plastic together, but this type of plastic has ultra-thin plastic joints and these allow it fold up like a piece of clever origami.
Simple metal screws connect the synthetic seat and back areas to the main solid-wooden structural supports, in turned connected by traditional wood joinery techniques.
This is a really clever and unique design. In some sense this concept would be ideal for this competition, it appears to be easy to fold away and it even has a slot at the back which would be perfect for bibles, prayer books and other church literature. The only down side is, does it really show sympathy to the historical interiors of the church? Does it look too modern perhaps? Is it really that comfortable and durable? It is a shame that I am not able to sit and use the chair for myself otherwise some of these questions would not have cropped up. My designs must take into account all of these factors if I am to meettthe brief's requirements properly.
The Flux Chair
This is called the Flux chair, it is a one piece foldable chair that you can carry around with you at all times.
It regards to the brief this would be very relevant in terms of taking up less space but again does it fit within a church environment? Is it comfortable? I do not think it is very practical either for this brief - to disassembly each chair every time it does not need use seems very time consuming. Yet what is important is looking at the ways in which it folds and the materials it is made from.
This is purely made out of polypropylene which is another material that I can explore.
It regards to the brief this would be very relevant in terms of taking up less space but again does it fit within a church environment? Is it comfortable? I do not think it is very practical either for this brief - to disassembly each chair every time it does not need use seems very time consuming. Yet what is important is looking at the ways in which it folds and the materials it is made from.
This is purely made out of polypropylene which is another material that I can explore.
This is just a link taken from youtube that displays how the chair assembles and folds away.