The Birth Chair II (BCII) was inspired by African birthing chairs, which are used in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa. Like most home furnishings in African countries it serves a dual purpose with a utilitarian function as both a decorative element and a seat.
In this piece, I used a single bent plywood or acrylic for the seat and a flat piece with various patterns for the backrest finished in black to closely match the type of dark wood used on masks and various carvings from Africa. Unlike the commonly found birthing chairs where the seat section goes through a slot in the backrest, I reversed how the backrest connects with the seat. This feature also introduces for the very first time a modular chair with an easily swappable backrest that can be switched either by flipping it or by inserting an alternate backrest with a new design. The spare design can also be inserted in a floor stand with light or be hanged on a wall as a decorative element serving a dual purpose.
Birth Chair II has been shown at Venice Design 2017 in Venice, Italy; at Africa by Design in Dubai; and at International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF 2017) NYC. My work has also been featured in various magazines and design blogs.
In this piece, I used a single bent plywood or acrylic for the seat and a flat piece with various patterns for the backrest finished in black to closely match the type of dark wood used on masks and various carvings from Africa. Unlike the commonly found birthing chairs where the seat section goes through a slot in the backrest, I reversed how the backrest connects with the seat. This feature also introduces for the very first time a modular chair with an easily swappable backrest that can be switched either by flipping it or by inserting an alternate backrest with a new design. The spare design can also be inserted in a floor stand with light or be hanged on a wall as a decorative element serving a dual purpose.
Birth Chair II has been shown at Venice Design 2017 in Venice, Italy; at Africa by Design in Dubai; and at International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF 2017) NYC. My work has also been featured in various magazines and design blogs.
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