Stool Documents
By Elly Ngoh
I was very interested in folding as a
method of construction because it allowed me to make full use of the materials
given and provided the most structural integrity. Hence, I focused my efforts
on making 2 separate nets from each sheet that could be folded into a final
shape and connected with minimal fastening methods. Scoring rectangles the
width of the cardboard used and removing most of the material left behind a
thin outer skin that folded over and created a smooth exterior fold.
My final project is made of 3 main sections – a base container, a seat and an internal support structure. The shape of the base container piece governs the overall shape of the stool. Aesthetically, I enjoy simple and clean shapes that add dynamism to the piece. As a result, I took the idea of a regular box and tried elevating the design by changing the rectangular sides to trapeziums. The final trapezoid shape has a slightly smaller top than its base, drawing attention to the seat for use.
Initially, I planned on making the seat a
simple lid that slotted onto the base container. However, the hollow space
beneath the seat did not allow it to support much weight. In response to this
problem, I decided to create another container out of the seat portion, folding
in the sides to create another hollow trapezoid that could be filled with more
material for greater support.
Finally, the seat is mainly supported by a
long rectangular piece of cardboard that was folded into a zigzag shape. By
using the grain of the cardboard, I was able to maximize structural integrity with
a minimal amount of material. This supporting piece was held in place by
another open container with trapezium sides that slotted into the “seat-container”
section of the stool. This decision to close off the seat piece added an
addition layer of concealment for the support structure.
In “The Tell-The-Tale Detail”, Marco
Frascari discusses the role of details in providing harmony within a larger design.
As such, I tried to maintain a consistent folding and tabbing system throughout
the stool so that each piece reads as part of a cohesive whole. Almost every
separate section was folded and connected using triangular tabs, aside from the
connection between the arms of the lid piece that used rectangular tabs to
mirror the rectangular pieces. The triangle tabs took the basic concept of
rectangular tabs that are commonly seen on cardboard boxes and elevated the
design in the same way the trapeziums added dynamism to the rectangular box
design.
Overall, the design is an exploration of
the relationship between the interior and exterior of the stool. The seat acts
as both an interior for the larger stool and an exterior for the support
structure. The concealment of the support structure also made the stool more
interesting as the exterior gives no indication to the work that was being done
in the interior.
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