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Deftly sidestepping the ordinary and expected, this three piece contract-furniture collection by award-winning Vancouver practice Patkau Architects for Nienkämper combines elegance and whimsy — with a little material exploration thrown in for good measure.
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First to be conceived was the Twist chair, which required the development of a patented process to achieve its signature shape: Two layers of Birch plywood are bent and fused together — without the need for heat or steam — to form a super-thin yet superbly strong structure. A trio of stainless steel hairpin legs support the flattened conical seat, maintaining its graceful and lightweight appearance.
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From here came the Cocoon. Intent on creating an intimate space for semi-private meetings, Patkau applied the same manufacturing techniques used for Twist only at a grander scale. Reminiscent of the firm’s Skating Shelters in Winnipeg, the freestanding and partially enclosed booth is equipped with acoustic panels and a fixed bench and can be integrated with power and charging outlets.
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A slight deviation, the Bilateral Bench is comprised of two solid wood planes — sloped for comfort — that are seemingly separated by a narrow gap. In actuality, they are connected via an internal stainless steel disc joint where two sets of slender hairpin legs (a direct reference to Twist) intersect the wood.
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While the individual pieces have their own merit, the three profess a common language — one that emphasizes originality and beauty as much as practicality and functionality.
Deftly sidestepping the ordinary and expected, this three piece contract-furniture collection by award-winning Vancouver practice Patkau Architects for Nienkämper combines elegance and whimsy.