The 'Up-Chair' Borrows Its Design from the Famous Paradox
Joey Haar — August 22, 2016 — Art & Design
The Up-Chair is a sleek, fluidly designed piece of furniture that owes its interesting conception to a famous mathematical paradox.
A Mobius strip is a long strip of paper that's twisted once and then connected to itself by the ends. Whereas the strip of paper had two sides before being connected, the Mobius strip has only one side. Taking a lesson from this twisted paradox, the Up-Chair, a design by Martin Ballendat for Tonon, an Italian furniture company, mimics the Mobius paradox.
The Up-Chair's back and arms are composed of a single shape that twists near the shoulder area. If a consumer were to run their hand down one arm, underneath the chair and up the inside of the other arm, their hand would end up back where it started without ever lifting it, just like on a Mobius strip.
A Mobius strip is a long strip of paper that's twisted once and then connected to itself by the ends. Whereas the strip of paper had two sides before being connected, the Mobius strip has only one side. Taking a lesson from this twisted paradox, the Up-Chair, a design by Martin Ballendat for Tonon, an Italian furniture company, mimics the Mobius paradox.
The Up-Chair's back and arms are composed of a single shape that twists near the shoulder area. If a consumer were to run their hand down one arm, underneath the chair and up the inside of the other arm, their hand would end up back where it started without ever lifting it, just like on a Mobius strip.
Trend Themes
1. Mobius-inspired Furniture - Designing furniture inspired by mathematical concepts allows for unique, innovative designs, such as the Up-Chair.
2. Singular Design Elements - Embracing the concept of a single, continuous shape can create visually striking and conceptually intriguing products, exemplified by the twisting shape of the Up-Chair.
3. Fluid Design - The Up-Chair's sinuous, fluid design demonstrates the appeal of furniture pieces that feel dynamic and organic.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Design - By incorporating mathematical concepts into furniture designs, designers and manufacturers can stand out in the crowded market for home furnishings.
2. Luxury Goods - Innovative furniture designs, like the Up-Chair, offer a unique selling point to luxury goods companies, targeting consumers interested in exclusive, original products.
3. Interior Design - Interior decorators and home staging professionals may benefit from highlighting the conceptually-driven design of pieces like the Up-Chair when trying to make a space feel interesting and dynamic.
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