Danish designer Hans J Wegner created the CH07 lounge chair in 1963, and now Zaha Hadid Architects introduces its Lapella Chair as a recreation of the original piece. The new iteration is constructed with stone and carbon fiber materials, featuring a winged-out silhouette with three legs as a foundation. The chair is specifically crafted from carbon fiber composites and palissandro stone, elevated from its original upholstered fabrication and laminated wood.
Zaha Hadid wanted to create a piece that had a thin and light stone formation -- to do so, designers tapped engineering firm AKT-II as well as the University of Westminister for support calculation. They calculated compression and tension through different parts of the Lapella chair to determine the thickness of the carbon fibers. The stone goes through a milling process using CNC machines and the fibers are incorporated through layers using a vacuum structural technique. To finish, the stone is polished and cleaned.
Reimagined Stone Chairs
Zaha Hadid Architects' Lapella Chair is a Updated Version of The 1963 CH07
Trend Themes
1. Stone Furniture - Designers are exploring the use of stone in furniture, which could lead to the creation of new types of durable, eco-friendly furniture.
2. Carbon Fiber Composites - The use of carbon fiber composites in furniture design could lead to lightweight, yet durable furniture alternatives to traditional materials.
3. Collaborative Furniture Design - Collaboration between designers, engineers, and universities in furniture design can lead to innovative, cutting-edge creations like the Lapella Chair.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - Furniture manufacturers could invest in researching and developing stone-based furniture to offer eco-friendly and durable options for customers.
2. Material Science - The use of carbon fiber composites in furniture design presents opportunities for material scientists to develop new, innovative materials for the furniture industry.
3. Collaborative Design Firms - Collaborative design firms that bring together designers, engineers, and universities can be at the forefront of furniture innovation and create cutting-edge designs like the Lapella Chair.