imm cologne 09 preview: 'zipshape' by schindlersalmerón

‘zipshape’ chair

on display at the upcoming cologne fair will be ‘zipshape’, a series of cantilevered rocking chairs developed by students from the hamburg school for timber technology, together with swiss company schindlersalmerón. the ‘zipshape’ research project involved creating a universal fabrication method where it was possible to join single curved panels from any plain material without moulds. using rocking chairs as an example they created two individually slotted panels that interlock when bent to the predefined curvature. the chairs are made with walnut and cherry wood.

detail of zipshape assembly

‘zipshape’ curved panels

the panel slots cut at a specific angle

connecting the two panels

interlocking and bending the panels

‘zipshape’ series of chairs assembled all images © schindlersalmerón

more: http://www.schindlersalmeron.com