DUSK

Unlike iron and other materials, aluminum has a beautiful floating feel and light impression. Ever since I started designing chairs made of aluminum, I have continued to think of forms that emphasize the floating feeling, with only the seat appearing to be floating. A single thin plate made of steel would be able to withstand it, but if it is made of aluminum, it will not be structurally viable unless it is made at least three times as thick or the way it is supported is changed. Therefore, I have been exploring the possibility of a structure in which two thin aluminum plates support each other.

A thin sheet of aluminum floats in the air like a wing, disappearing as the sun sets at dusk. I was imagining a scene like that. In order to make the plate float in the air like a thin wing, it is necessary to minimize the number of supporting points, and if possible, it is best to use only one supporting point. Therefore, the shape I adopted this time is a 4mm thick aluminum plate that is curved like a thin wing, and touches the leg that are curved in the opposite shape at one point. However, in this state, it is extremely difficult to maintain balance from side to side when sitting. Also, if a load is applied near the left and right tips, it will easily bend. Furthermore, in order to create a structure that could support a load of 100 kg, like the chairs I had designed up until now, various ingenuity was required.
Therefore, prepare a second 4mm thick aluminum plate with a square hole in the middle, insert the leg through the hole, and weld the contact point with the leg. By placing a 4mm thick aluminum plate that forms the seat on top of this and welding both ends together, I am able to balance the left and right sides while supporting the seat's flexure.
The combination of the two floating thin aluminum plates and the contrastingly heavy legs gives the seat a floating feeling that seems to disappear when viewed from the front.