oskar zieta: 3+ modular furniture collection

‘3+ modular furniture collection’ by oskar zietaphoto by jedrzej stelmaszek/paulina sikorska/zieta prozessdesign

studio oskar zieta works to develop production methods which utilize new engineering techniques and innovative technology to realize a range of furniture and architectural forms; but which can also generate endless possibilities for development and usage. most notably, the polish designer is behind the invention of FiDU technology which is a process which allows for the inflation of metal sheets into 3D forms. the impetus behind his latest innovation was the USM haller modular system, whose mane element is a chrome-plated brass ball joint, connected by steel tubes to form a greater framework of coated metal panels, allowing a number of customized configurations.

video overview of the design and construction of ‘3+’ modular furniture

his resulting 3+ technology offers a flexible production process– it does not employ prefabricated sandwich plates, but rather the studio’s own manufactured shapes which are based on a composition of two thin customized metal sheets–available in three different sizes. a computer is used to control the development of the objects, each one CNC machined into a one-of-a-kind piece which can be adjusted according to individual needs.

zieta has applied this technology to the ‘3+ collection’, a collection of modular furniture which features chairs, tables and shelving. a simple system of connectors and perforated panels, along with other versatile elements such as beech wood table legs, give the user the opportunity to customize their product the function they want it to possess, or create new ones from scratch. each of the powder coated or galvanized steel parts can be attached by the specially designed fasteners, or standard screws available at any hardware store. the various sized panels give the user the option to use them either vertically to create a shelving display, or horizontally to function as a table when used with the leg components.

the collection is composed of chairs, tables, and storage systems which can be customized according to the user’s needsphoto by jedrzej stelmaszek/paulina sikorska/zieta prozessdesign

photo by jedrzej stelmaszek/paulina sikorska/zieta prozessdesign

its employment as a work surface makes it ideal for office environments as the perforations allow air to ventilate, reducing the amount of heat generated by laptops. the holes also aid in the organization of cables. in addition the openings serve as stabilization points to allow for many different configurations and design possibilities. for example, the chairs are made from single pieces, however they can be attached via connectors to form benches.outside of furniture applications, 3+ technology can be used to create facades for buildings.

the ‘3+ collection’ was presented at MOST during milan design week 2013.

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