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Niemeyer Ii Armchair by Joana Santos Barbosa |
Home > Winners > Design #138699 >Interview |
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FS: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
JS: The rounded forms of the Niemeyer II armchair are influenced by the House of Canoas designed by the Brazilian Architect Oscar Niemeyer in 1951. The modern flat roof offers its flowing forms to the round seat. The backward movement of the curve that frames a large granite boulder is recreated by the location of the diagonal seams that flow all around the arms and seat of the armchair. Seen from above, it really recreates the exact movement into the seat.
FS: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
JS: Being influenced by the assumptions of modernist architecture such as freedom of forms and volumetric organicity, the goal was to create a free design. The design itself was easily created, however, the production required many adjustments to be made until the complete rounded image could be achieved.
FS: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
JS: The Niemeyer II armchair already is one of the best-sellers among my designs. I believe that, being an award-winning design, this beautiful armchair will be placed in so many more interiors around the world.
FS: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
JS: The Niemeyer II armchair was born out of the design of my original armchair named Niemeyer. Both armchairs have the same design principles. The first took about a year to be fully developed and this version was less than that, as my team learned a lot from the first experience.
FS: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?
JS: I had a clear image in my mind that easily was transformed into a design.
FS: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?
JS: The Niemeyer II armchair is one of the best-sellers among my designs and is produced by my team, located in the city of Porto in the north of Portugal. We sell this armchair all over the World.
FS: What made you design this particular type of work?
JS: Being obsessed by a particular idea is what makes me create all of my designs. In this case, it was a particular movement of a modernist rooftop.
FS: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
JS: I’m not much influence about design. I’m more interested in other sources such as art, architecture, music and mother nature.
FS: Who is the target customer for his design?
JS: Customers around the world that look for exquisite luxury pieces with an effortless sophisticated vibe.
FS: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
JS: I draw my designs mostly on paper and computer. However, no 3D tools were used to develop this armchair. The prototype evolution occurred at the factory with real scale models.
FS: What is the most unique aspect of your design?
JS: The Niemeyer II is a luxurious armchair that catches the eye of the public, being both a minimal design, yet a statement piece.
FS: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
JS: The Niemeyer II armchair is produced by my team of talented Portuguese artisans. They are the ones who make my goals come true by applying traditional techniques and so much knowledge into the production process.
FS: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
JS: No so much. The Niemeyer II armchair was completely developed by local artisans, using the knowledge of traditional techniques both in woodwork as in upholstery.
FS: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
JS: Challenges are part of the design process and a completely round armchair as Niemeyer II is no exception. Inside, the wooden structure presents the necessary complexity for its clean exterior appearance. The construction process included several adjustments, both in the wooden structure and in the exact collation of the seams, to reach the final design, in which we find a total simplicity. Another anticipated challenge was related to the stability of the chair. By reducing the contact of the base with the floor we were able to offer an enormous freedom to the design. However, several improvements have been defined for its stability. This armchair is also available with a swivel option.
FS: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
JS: The Niemeyer II armchair is an iconic creation among my designs and features as one of the best-sellers. Winning an international design competition creates the right awareness around the design.
FS: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?
JS: Well, what I’m reminded each time I create a new design; that perseverance is such an important quality!
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A' Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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