‘amada’ all photos by gene young, smithsonian american art museum

the work of american designer matthias pliessnig straddles the concepts of craft, art and design. his work is a synergy of time-honored techniques and modern digital aesthetic using skills as a craftsman to bring his ideas to reality.

pliessnig recently completed ‘amada’, a design for a private client who wanted a large bench flowing through his living space. the piece was designed to direct the sitter to face multiple directions. the seating unit is made entirely of air-dried responsibly harvested white oak that has been steam bent to create the curvaceous form of the bench.

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 2 alternate view

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 3 up close

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 4 bending the white oak to create the bench’s curves

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 5 matthias pliessnig working on ‘amada’

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 6 nearing completion

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 7

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 8 rendering of ‘amada’

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 9 rendering of ‘amada’

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 10 rendering

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 11 rendering

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 12 rendering

matthias pliessnig: amada bench - 13 sketches