Seat 4 one

The workshop challenged students to design and build a chair for Columbia College Performing Arts Center out of a single 3/4” plywood or MDF panels. The chair was to be built without screws, nails, or other hardware, but with joints and glue only.

The chair is designated for dance classes as a modular seating unit. The group of such chairs can be joined horizontally to create long, curvilinear benches. The chairs can also be stacked vertically to create room partitions with cubbies.

The geometry of the chair was inspired by Martha Graham’s Lamentation dance, where Martha moves and stretches in a dark purple tube-like stretchy garment.

A single plywood panel was cut to create the sides of the chair. To make the chair lighter, holes were punched into the sides, and the material removed was used for the top of the chair. The holes create handles to make the chair easier to carry. The openings allow the light through the chair and cast playful shadows.