Project
Sofa & Bed
Client
Muji, Japan
Production
2001 - 2006
By 2001 Muji had already become synonymous for the interjection of simple design with honest materials at reasonable prices. For furniture design, this formulae proved sometimes difficult to sell to customers whose expectations were for either lower prices or higher levels of craftsmanship. Muji invited Industrial Facility to examine this world – the suggestion being to use plywood for its strength and flat-pack honesty. Special metal joints were developed to avoid bolts piercing the surfaces, yet retain their flat-pack shipping feature. With natural bends and radii, the range proved popular enough to increase it to include double beds, sofa beds and day beds. It helped to bring Muji back to its core principles.
Project
Radice Stool
Client
Mattiazzi, Italy
Production
2013 —
Radice is a three-legged wooden stool, the result of Industrial Facility’s second collaboration with Italian furniture producer Mattiazzi.
Unlike many other Italian producers, Mattiazzi keeps all the facets of wood production under one roof. By default, they have become a rare company that is able to shape wood as if it were plastic, while embracing ever-increasing challenges through their own R&D. Industrial Facility have continued to push Mattiazzi further into the exploration of robot-craftsmanship – following on from their first collaboration with the Branca Chair.
Radice finds its underlying beauty and simplicity in its structure. It is the bringing together of the front-half of a traditional 4-legged stool with a single back leg – the root. It is a visual improvisation, where two things come together unexpectedly.
“Radice has some tension in its form and it is a slight surprise that the third leg works as well as it does to resolve the overall structure. It is in some ways structurally diagrammatic, yet is made comfortable visually and physically because of how this third leg supports the seat,” says Sam Hecht.
The backrest is small and reassuring, allowing a coat or handbag to rest on it; and the seat is open for large and small people. It is light both visually and in weight and uses no screws or metal fittings, yet also passes stringent BIFMA standards ensuring it is structurally sound, stable and reliable. The wood stain options for Radice are based on the cycle of an autumn leaf turning colour.
Radice is available in 650mm (stool height) and 450mm (chair height).
Finishes: Ash - Available in Natural, Black, Branca Green, Red, and Yellow mustard; Natural Oak
Optional seat cushions: Leather and Kvadrat Steelcut Trio
Films
Further Reading
Mattiazzi
International Sales
Project
Alumi Chair
Client
Tectona, France
Production
2013
Following our advanced study of wood for the creation of the Branca chair, we decided to investigate a different material - in particular aluminium - for an outdoor chair to be produced by Tectona. Aluminium is a perfect material for the outdoors; it is lightweight, non-corroding and can be shaped easily. For the design's starting point, we looked at public handrails on stairways - their size and proportion - which led to the oversized legs forming the armrests. These legs are made from an extrusion process that allows the chair to be stackable and affordable.
After countless studies of connections and profiles, the result is a chunky yet very light chair that also admittedly makes a nod to the legendary Landi Chair designed by Hans Coray.
Alumi is available in Black Matt; Copper Brown Matt; Olive Green Matt; Olive Yellow Matt
Films
International Sales
Tectona
Project
Branca Chair
Client
Mattiazzi SpA, Italy
Production
2010 —
In 1978 the Italian brothers Nevio and Fabbiano Mattiazzi began their obsession with wooden furniture production. For thirty years they produced furniture rather anonymously for some of the great Italian brands and only recently started to collaborate with world designers to expose their expertise to a wider audience. Over the years they have kept their expertise and quality sharp by continually investing in the latest machinery, and by maintaining a craftsman's attitude overall.
Unlike many other Italian producers, the Mattiazzi brothers knew to keep all the facets of wood production under one roof.
By default, they have now become a rare company that is able to shape wood as if it were plastic while embracing ever-increasing challenges as their own form of R&D.
After several trips to Mattiazzi's factory, along with close discussions with their craftsmen, Industrial Facility continues to push Mattiazzi further into their exploration of robot-craftsmanship.
Branca is the result of a combination of highly complex parts (made possible with robotic machinery, most notably the eight-axis CNC milling machine which Mattiazzi is expert with), alongside simple traditional shaping and finishing by hand.
"The power of the robot, the repetition of the machine and the skills of the craftsmen already have synchronised relationships at Mattiazzi where each process is as carefully selected as the wood blocks that are to be shaped", says Hecht.
It was in conversations with his partner Kim Colin, that the focus was turned to nature, where complexity thrives with reason. Beauty is simply a result of constant growth. In particular, the branches of a tree were to provide the critical analogy for the project.
Like wooden branches on a tree, Branca is a chair that is familiar to the eye. We accept that branches support the joints of twigs and leaves at different points that may seem random but are in fact intentional.
Branca's back leg supports the critical joints of its armrest, seat and back, and is made from a single piece of wood produced robotically. The joints are seen as but a part of the seamless nature of the chair and its simple outline belies the complexity of production.
With no question, Branca has to hold all of the functional attributes we expect a chair to have in a modern condition - to be comfortable; to have armrests; to fit under a table; to be light enough to carry; and to stack for easy shipping. Branca is inspired by wooden branches that turn, twist, meet and branch off.
Awards
Furniture Design of the Year, Design Museum, London, 2011
Habitare Award, Helsinki, 2011
Permanent Collections
V&A Museum, London
Finlandia Design Museum, Helsinki
Design Museum London
Exhibitions
New Simplicity, London, 2010
Power of Making, V&A Museum, London, 2011
Beijing International Design Triennial, 2011
Turn, Twist and Branch Off, Aram Store, London, 2011
Films
Branca, something of how they are made
Downloads
Branca Catalogue
Monitor Magazine
Further Reading
Domus Magazine
Details Magazine
The story of Mattiazzi
International Sales
Project
Branca Table
Client
Mattiazzi, Italy
Production
2010 -
The furniture range designed for Mattiazzi includes, apart from the Branca chair, a corresponding table, complementing the overall statement intended by Industrial Facility. In both pieces the design process was strongly influenced by the merging of elaborate craftsmanship with robotics. The Branca table employs a similar language as its accompanying chair, it evolves from the intention to provide a soft and inviting surface, supported by four natural ash legs. To overcome the solidity of the legs a chamfer is cut, starting 2/3 of the way down. Available in 2 sizes, the Branca chairs can slip comfortably underneath the table or rest on top of it if necessary, for floor cleaning. In 2012 a solid ash top was also introduced to the collection.
Awards
Furniture Design of the Year, Design Museum, London, 2011
Permanent Collections
Design Museum London, London
Finlandia Design Museum, Helsinki
Victoria & Albert Museum, London
Exhibitions
Turn, Twist and Branch Off, Aram Store, London, 2011
Films
Branca, something of how they are made
Downloads
Further Reading
International Sales
