one-quarter table + chair by jaklitsch / gardner architects

one-quarter table + chair by jaklitsch / gardner architectsall images courtesy jaklitsch / gardner architects

developed for the battery park conservancy ‘draw up a chair’ design competition, the one-quarter table/chair by new york-based jaklitsch / gardner architects highlights the ‘social condition’ of a seating object and its potential as a communal meeting place that supports multiple functions. it is conceived to be movable, grouped together and stackable for compact storage. shown in wood and metal versions, the component parts are easily mass produced from powder coated aluminum, sustainably harvested and weather resistant black locust wood and recycled PET plastic.

the form is traditional in the sense that the user can sit forward with a leaned back, but its asymmetric support frame additionally allows for non-cumbersome rear-facing seating that eliminates the need to straddle a typical centered back support. this backward position yields use of the frame’s 8 inch cantilever as an armrest or table that is equipped with a cup holder.

the ‘one quarter table/chair’ highlights the ‘social condition’ of a seating object and its potential as a meeting place that supports multiple functions

chairs can be seamlessly combined in which two chairs arranged back to back create a table large enough for a chess game or two friends meeting for lunch. the number of seats that can be combined are only limited to the number of available chairs. larger arrangements accommodate a 4-person table and seating or even a long banquet table.

the battery conservancy invites the public to participate by commenting online and on-site in the park. from now through october 2013 visitors to the park can view the top 50 designs on an exhibition banner located near the battery green and express their opinions by sending a text message to (425) chair-55.