DESIGN NAME: Sunniva Deluxe
PRIMARY FUNCTION: Outdoor Swing
INSPIRATION: For this design Brian desired to reinterpret the traditional porch swing as a piece that would be considered inviting, attractive, and comfortable. He wanted a swing that recalled natural elements such as the subtle flexibility and unobstructed support of tree branches. Identifying how straight lines and angles can make a porch swing feel artificial and static he intended this design to imply movement and organic comfort in its structure.
UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Sunniva Deluxe swing performs the functions of the archetypal front porch swing through an original design. Brian introduced the use of lamination into this design to replace conventional lines and angles with curves inspired by nature. While implying a sense of movement the curvature of this piece provides lumbar support and an unobstructed view through the absence of ropes or chains for support. The cantilevered stand is engineered to be flexible, silent in operation, and easily moved.
OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: This swing is much more elegant and ergonomic than quaint country versions. The stand is optional - if you have a porch roof or other load bearing structure, you can mount the swing directly to it. However, the stand lets you place the swing anywhere you'd like, and provides a nice "buoyant" swinging experience due to the flexibility of its bows.
PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: This design was the result of years of consideration. It came to be over 2011-2012; patent awarded in 2014.
FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Furniture Design
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PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: The arch of the swing and stand are epoxied bent laminations that add a bounce for comfort, phenomenal strength and beauty. The joinery is fully housed double tenons that prevent moisture from penetrating and compromising integrity of the construction.
We use Honduran mahogany because of its beauty and performance. We sustainably source it through a non-profit organization that Brian co-founded 23 years ago. He has traveled to Honduras many times to teach woodworking and chair making techniques.
Hardware is stainless steel; footpads on stand are recycled rubber.
SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: Swing and stand, sized to fit two adults:
226.06 cm height x 195.58 cm wide x 132.08 cm depth
Available in custom sizes with or without the stand.
TAGS: porch swing, woodworking, mahogany, ergonomics, outdoor furniture, outdoor swing
RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Since we already had a source for beautiful, stable mahogany (through our connection with the Greenwood/Madera Verde organization), we could move directly to selecting an adhesive to be used in the laminations.
Most epoxies cure to a stable hardness and strength, but do not fully penetrate the underlying material. In order to have a remarkably strong load-bearing structure that would maintain its integrity through the elements, we needed to find an adhesive capable of saturating wood. After trying a variety of options, we settled on an oak & teak-derived epoxy. The natural wood resins penetrate fibers thoroughly, resulting in a solid bond.
In order to test the strength of our laminations, we destroyed the offcuts of each laminated component we make. This allows us to gauge durability, which can fluctuate with environmental conditions and application techniques.
CHALLENGE: Typically, our chair designs are curved over two planes - a horizontal plane and a vertical plane. The vertical curves over a slightly relaxed, reclined posture, while the horizontal curves hug the back and offer lumbar support.
Due to the bench like nature of the swing, and the fact that it is built for two or more people at a time, we could not add a curve across the horizontal plane. It was a challenge to devise a vertical curve that would be equally comfortable and accommodating. We tested several incarnations of this contour before finalization.
ADDED DATE: 2015-11-07 16:34:02
TEAM MEMBERS (1) :
IMAGE CREDITS: Image #1: Photographer / Tim Barnwell / 2011
Image #2: Photographer / Paul Dyer / 2015
Image #3: Photographer / Paul Dyer / 2015
Image #4: Photographer / Tim Barnwell / 2011
Image #5: Photographer / Melanie Boggs / 2013
PATENTS/COPYRIGHTS: Patented. #D712,167. Brian Boggs. 2014. United States.
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