zaha hadid: z-chair for sawaya & moroni
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zaha hadid: z-chair for sawaya & moroni
'z-chair' by zaha hadid for sawaya & moroni
image © designboom
italian furniture company sawaya & moroni presents 'z-chair' by london-based architect zaha hadid
as part of milan design week 2011.
profile
image © designboom
the design is a simple three-dimensional gesture that zigzags in space as part of the continued discourse
between form and function, elegance and utility, differentiation and continuity. geometric abstractions
inform the design's linear loop, articulated along its path in a language that alternates thin wire streams
and large surfaces to provide both ergonomic affordances and inherent stability to the overall shape.
'z-chair' on display at the sawaya & moroni showroom in milan
image © designboom
the subtle play of contrasting angular corners and wide, smooth curves are a result of the calligraphic gestures
of hadid's two-dimensional works, a three-dimensional presentation of a controlled brush stroke on a canvas,
the synthesis of an idea: the sketch.
image © designboom
image courtesy of sawaya & moroni
image courtesy of sawaya & moroni
image © designboom
the chairs are displayed within a space of continuously changing vibrant colored lights from
cool blues to warm orange and red tones.
image © designboom
paolo moroni and zaha hadid
william sawaya and zaha hadid
image courtesy of sawaya & moroni
image courtesy of sawaya & moroni
I've heard one architect said the chair of Zaha Hadid is the most comfortable he sit on. This one looks like silly exploration of deepest nightmares.
Dear Ms. Zaha keep up with the pencil, think ecologically
Dear Ms. Zaha keep up with the pencil, think ecologically
suspicious 04.15.11
Subtle play?
ZzZzZzZzZzZzZaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHadid!
ZzZzZzZzZzZzZaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHaHadid!
twig 04.15.11
usually Zaha's work seems rather arbitrary to me but this feels spot on - now I perhaps understand her other work a bit better
this is a very sophisticated balancing act between form, stability, and functionality in a totally 3 dimensional sense - the choice of material (and more importantly, the surface quality that it permits) is perfect - rendered in plastic it would still be interesting but far less kinetic and engaging, wood would (sic) most likely involve a structural lie
I would have to say that it probably owes something to the work of her classmate Mr. Arad
this is a very sophisticated balancing act between form, stability, and functionality in a totally 3 dimensional sense - the choice of material (and more importantly, the surface quality that it permits) is perfect - rendered in plastic it would still be interesting but far less kinetic and engaging, wood would (sic) most likely involve a structural lie
I would have to say that it probably owes something to the work of her classmate Mr. Arad
dbkii 04.15.11
Suspicious and Twig, you are the usual frustrated who want to criticize Zaha at any cost but your comments are not critic nor intelligent.
This chair was extremely successful, I have been in Milan at the launch and everybody agreed on its blend of beauty and fuctionality.
Rather than making fun of the text just try to make a chair in one continuous gesture and then you'll understand why they talk about "subtle play".
Why don't you post you works on the web and show your design skills? Poor losers!
This chair was extremely successful, I have been in Milan at the launch and everybody agreed on its blend of beauty and fuctionality.
Rather than making fun of the text just try to make a chair in one continuous gesture and then you'll understand why they talk about "subtle play".
Why don't you post you works on the web and show your design skills? Poor losers!
elegance 04.15.11
I couldn't agree more with "elegance." I am so sick of pseudo-critics/designers trashing anything posted by a number of high profile architects/designers. If your work is so damn good that puts Hadid's or any other creative to shame why isn't it posted here.
As a side note what a great synergy of form and function
As a side note what a great synergy of form and function
DsgnCrit 04.15.11
I have been sitting on that chair and despite to its formal articulation is much more confortable than the edgy one from Libeskind which was exposed in the same showroom.
elegance 04.15.11
Dear Elegance and DesignCrit.
You have a point.Any pseudocritic should be creative, intelligent and sophisticated enough to to speak and also must reveal his works to compete with Hadid. BUT:
1. Are you aware of how thiw society works? Hadid was a "looser" for decades until somethng happened and society awknoledged her. Have you ever heard about system, lobbies and masons? Do you think the best gets what he deserves? Can we ALL get Hadid's exposition and media help even if we are the same good as her?
2. Hadid is not a 3-d creator thus she is a loser compared to all of us. Anybody can draw wild lines on paper , hire some 3-d minds like us to visualize it and get the known result. We all know she was a painter and not an architect for many years. Her firm is called Z. Hadid AND ARCHITECTS...
3. There is not much elegance and beauty after all but abstract imagination and nature shape copying. Have you ever done these stuff? I have. Its not that dfficult. The difficult is to put a purpose in it. Real beauty needs more than imagination and definately the opposite than abstruct or abstruse.
You have a point.Any pseudocritic should be creative, intelligent and sophisticated enough to to speak and also must reveal his works to compete with Hadid. BUT:
1. Are you aware of how thiw society works? Hadid was a "looser" for decades until somethng happened and society awknoledged her. Have you ever heard about system, lobbies and masons? Do you think the best gets what he deserves? Can we ALL get Hadid's exposition and media help even if we are the same good as her?
2. Hadid is not a 3-d creator thus she is a loser compared to all of us. Anybody can draw wild lines on paper , hire some 3-d minds like us to visualize it and get the known result. We all know she was a painter and not an architect for many years. Her firm is called Z. Hadid AND ARCHITECTS...
3. There is not much elegance and beauty after all but abstract imagination and nature shape copying. Have you ever done these stuff? I have. Its not that dfficult. The difficult is to put a purpose in it. Real beauty needs more than imagination and definately the opposite than abstruct or abstruse.
organic design 04.15.11
Dear organic design,
I jus hate arrogant comments which show nothing but frustration and envy. A positive critic, instead, can enrich your background and explore new points of view.
Just to answer your points
1-You're right: Zaha's been struggling for years but nothing magically happened like you write. She tried hard and pursued her vision of space where anybody else would have given up, maybe designing a big commercial project to make a lot of money from it.
2-Zaha is not a 3d creator but she has very clear ideas and some of the finest 3d modelers among architects who can do the job for her, so i don't see your point.
3-Beauty is proportion and proportion comes from laws. Nature has been improving these laws thorgh evolution for thousands of years, that's why architects always try to embed natural forms in their research. Zaha's not the first: Fidia, Palladio, Saarinen, Calatrava.
And, please...I teach advanced architecture and Maya modeling and scripting at the university, don't tell me "it's not difficult" because it takes time and skill to achive an elegant form. Don't be arrogant dear Mr. Nobody.
I really don't understand all this frustration and I am seriously curious to see your work to understand your self-confidence of being better than Zaha where comes from...that's the only way to prove if you're entitled to talk or not. Show us you talent.
I jus hate arrogant comments which show nothing but frustration and envy. A positive critic, instead, can enrich your background and explore new points of view.
Just to answer your points
1-You're right: Zaha's been struggling for years but nothing magically happened like you write. She tried hard and pursued her vision of space where anybody else would have given up, maybe designing a big commercial project to make a lot of money from it.
2-Zaha is not a 3d creator but she has very clear ideas and some of the finest 3d modelers among architects who can do the job for her, so i don't see your point.
3-Beauty is proportion and proportion comes from laws. Nature has been improving these laws thorgh evolution for thousands of years, that's why architects always try to embed natural forms in their research. Zaha's not the first: Fidia, Palladio, Saarinen, Calatrava.
And, please...I teach advanced architecture and Maya modeling and scripting at the university, don't tell me "it's not difficult" because it takes time and skill to achive an elegant form. Don't be arrogant dear Mr. Nobody.
I really don't understand all this frustration and I am seriously curious to see your work to understand your self-confidence of being better than Zaha where comes from...that's the only way to prove if you're entitled to talk or not. Show us you talent.
elegance 04.16.11
Where is the chair?
Albert 04.18.11
it's amazing that it is possible, after thousands of years that chairs exist, to give them still new shapes and forms. This one is really extraordinary, smart and never seen anything like it before. Wow, Zara Hadid as true designer, one of the best there is.
Heidi 04.18.11
The form appears to be forced unwillingly into a flat seat and tilted backplate. the rest of the "supposed" chair drips off, lost and excessive in geometry in an attempt to add an illusion of complexity. The 'chair' appears unbalanced, killed by the idea of a continuous band which never appears to show to its seams. Like her architecture, expensive and unclear. layered with so many distracting moves, any authentic brilliance is lost underneath that very very shinny reflective snot!
I wish her studio would stop relying on exploited 3d mesh modelling software to create interesting form. Its simply lazy and creates glossy facades for boring ideas. less is definitely more.
I wish her studio would stop relying on exploited 3d mesh modelling software to create interesting form. Its simply lazy and creates glossy facades for boring ideas. less is definitely more.
double d 04.20.11
Double d,
even if i disagree with you, you're the first one here who managed to put together a meaningful critic. i think every designer pursues a research agenda. Hadid's one relies on reinventing traditional things using different languages ispired by natural forms. This can be done in several ways and probably Hadid's one is less focused on materiality itself and more on the gesture, the shape. You say less is more: this chair is a simple loop which traces the shape of a chair avoiding any additional part, any branching...when they write perfect synthesis I think they really mean it. This IS LESS. A traditional chair, for instance, IS MORE since its design is an addition and justapposition of several parts.
even if i disagree with you, you're the first one here who managed to put together a meaningful critic. i think every designer pursues a research agenda. Hadid's one relies on reinventing traditional things using different languages ispired by natural forms. This can be done in several ways and probably Hadid's one is less focused on materiality itself and more on the gesture, the shape. You say less is more: this chair is a simple loop which traces the shape of a chair avoiding any additional part, any branching...when they write perfect synthesis I think they really mean it. This IS LESS. A traditional chair, for instance, IS MORE since its design is an addition and justapposition of several parts.
elegance 04.21.11
Albert,
if you don't see the chair i hope you're not a designer nor an architect. Otherwise I think you'd better find another job.
if you don't see the chair i hope you're not a designer nor an architect. Otherwise I think you'd better find another job.
elegance 04.21.11
Dear elegance,
what do you think about the idea Zaha doesn't belong to the present days? And also about egoism, lack of ideas,..?
I agree to the old Romans:"De gustibus non est disputandum", but here is just a matter of "gustibus".
From my humble opinion today's art should be more realistic, but "l'art pour l'art". Although you have charming name, actual times need more directive art than elegant.
what do you think about the idea Zaha doesn't belong to the present days? And also about egoism, lack of ideas,..?
I agree to the old Romans:"De gustibus non est disputandum", but here is just a matter of "gustibus".
From my humble opinion today's art should be more realistic, but "l'art pour l'art". Although you have charming name, actual times need more directive art than elegant.
suspicious 04.22.11
Wierd! but don't let me put down people trying! This is what design is about. Design, build, keep pushing the envelope, try to do what others haven't. It's not that original and it quite doesn't work but it was nevertheless executed well. Keep designing and you will hit upon the right combination of curves and lack there of.
Korby 04.23.11
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