Dutch designer Bam Geenen of Studio Geenen has designed a chair using hanging chains to determine its form.

Called Gaudi Chair, the piece is made of a carbon-fibre weave and a glass-reinforced nylon rib structure.

It is based upon architect Antonio Gaudí's modelling method used to design arches of optimum strength.

Geenan has previously designed a stool using the same method (see our earlier story here).

Watch a video of the design development process here.

Here are more details from Geenen:

Gaudi Chair

The Gaudi Chair is the follow-up of the Gaudi Stool which was created in 2009. It was designed using the same method as Antoni Gaudi, who made models of hanging chains, which upside-down showed him the strongest shape for his churches. Additionally, to be able to determine the structure of the chair's backrest, a software script was used.

The script was based on three steps: Firstly the distribution of forces across the surface of the chair. Secondly the direction of forces defined the direction of the ribs. Finally the amount of force specified the height of a rib.

Materials and techniques were chosen to create a lightweight chair. The surface is of carbonfiber, the ribs are made of glass-filled nylon, by selective laser sintering. The project researches how new technoloqy can be based on simple, logical concepts. In this case a concept which has proven it's strength and beauty for over a hundred years.

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Gaudi Stool by Studio Geenen	Plum Stool by Alvaro Uribe	More furniture stories