Comfort from Flat Elements
Tiles Chair is a plywood chair designed by Planbureau for Balaton Furniture Factory. It explores how flat components can form a comfortable, three-dimensional seating surface without complex double-curved moulding. The design combines simple wooden elements with an ergonomic arrangement.
Flat plywood pieces are positioned at different angles and supported by straight wooden rods. Planbureau developed the chair through design research, structural development and physical prototyping. The resulting prototype demonstrates an approach intended for efficient serial production.
Client
Industry
Product
Location
Timeline
Services
Balaton Furniture Factory
Furniture
Plywood Chair
Budapest, Hungary
2 months in 2021
Design Research
Concept Development
Industrial Design
Prototyping
Design Engineering
Visualisation
The Cost of Curvature
Ergonomic wooden chairs often use curved seats and backrests to support the body. Double-curved plywood components, however, can require specialised moulds and manufacturing equipment. Their production may involve substantial initial investment.
These requirements can make complex seating forms difficult to justify at smaller production volumes. Balaton Furniture Factory needed an alternative approach. The aim was to develop a distinctive, comfortable chair that could be manufactured using simpler woodworking processes.
Shaping Comfort from Flat Parts
The primary challenge was to create a supportive seating surface without relying on double-curved components. Each flat plywood element needed an appropriate size, angle and position. Together, the pieces had to approximate the contours of the seated body.
Planbureau explored these relationships through physical prototypes. The team also developed the connections between the plywood components and straight wooden rods. Structural stability, material efficiency and compatibility with conventional woodworking technologies guided the design.
An Ergonomic Tiled Surface
Tiles Chair replaces continuous moulded surfaces with an arrangement of flat plywood elements. Individual pieces are positioned at different angles to create a three-dimensional seat and backrest. Straight wooden rods connect and support the structure.
The resulting geometry follows the seated body without requiring double-curved plywood moulding. Each component can be produced using relatively simple woodworking methods. A physical prototype demonstrated the construction principle, offering a basis for further development toward serial manufacturing.
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