Lamppost Chair
A multi-functional reading chair for small spaces with an industrial modern, DIY aesthetic.
SCOPE
Furniture Design
Fabrication
CREDITS
RISD
How can I design easy, comfortable furniture for tiny spaces?
With space increasingly becoming a valuable commodity, I was interested in designing for small spaces. Tiny house and tiny living has also become trendy lately, with companies such as Getaway renting out small one room cabins for young adventurers to retreat out in the middle of the wilderness. Tiny spaces present an interesting design challenge to optimize space and function while still keeping comfort and ease.
By leveraging all the possible space there is.
The lamppost chair takes advantage of vertical space, something that is often overlooked. Often multifunctional furniture appears complex, complicated and ugly, but this chair keeps things as simple and direct as possible—bookshelf, chair and lamp. The chair is also designed to be taken apart and reassembled for flexible, easy transportation, and set up in small spaces.
Shelf is screwed into tabs at bottom
3D printed connectors for the backrest attachment
Simple pull string light
Machined notch in foot for lamp wire
Shelf at the bottom makes it for the perfect reading chair
Light rotates for more accessibility
ASSEMBLY INSTRUCTIONS
Parts come pre-made and only a screw driver is needed to for assembly. The user also has the option to assemble the chair with or without the lamppost.
TECHINICAL DRAWINGS
Exploded View
Orthographic View
PROCESS
Concept development began by finding inspiration and brainstorm sketching with marker on paper. Through discussion and iteration, designs were refined until a final design was chosen. The design was finalized and modeled in Rhinoceros3D. Dimensions were extracted and used for templates for fabrication.
Form was inspired by multi-functional furniture, modern industrial aesthetic, utilitarian function, and DIY design. Materials and finishes stay true and raw, connections are exposed, construction is clear and honest, and nothing is hidden.
Brainstroming sketches
Refinement sketches
Rendering
FABRICATION
The frame is made from cold rolled steel tubing finished with black textured spray paint and the shelf, seat and back rest is made from plywood finished with poly-acrylic for durability. Natural woven fabric, dark finishes for fasteners and an Edison light bulb come together to complete the industrial/DIY aesthetic.
Steel pipe was bent with tube roller
Welded with jigs in place
Notches were machined for perfect fit
Tabs were welded on for shelf attachment
Steel frame ready to weld!
Backrest was vacuum formed with bending ply
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