Spun
Designed by Thomas Heatherwick
Manufactured by Magis, Italy
The process of metal spinning is traditionally used to make circular metal objects, such as timpani drums and gas cylinders, by pressing flat sheets of metal against a shaped former while they both rotate. If it was possible to make large drums with spun metal, might it be possible to make a chair with a completely symmetrical rotational form? And would it be comfortable to sit in?
©Heatherwick Studio
After extensive research and experimentation, Heatherwick Studio produced an ergonomic form that works as a chair, whichever way it is rotated. To achieve this in a single form, the seat had to be capable of serving as a back support and the back support had to make a comfortable seat.
©Heatherwick Studio
At college, Heatherwick had been taught by a silversmith, skilled in using big sheets of silver to make large goblets and trophies. Working with the gallery, Haunch of Venison, Heatherwick Studio used the traditional craft of large-scale metal spinning to produce a series of highly finished pieces in different metals.
©Heatherwick Studio
The studio also collaborated with the Italian furniture manufacturer, Magis, to develop a version made with a different kind of rotational process, rotation-moulded plastic.
©Heatherwick Studio