Gold Furniture Design · 2021
Ging Chair
by Alan Hung
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: WAY Object
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 50,086
- Verification code A73A50DDC8 · Verify this award
About Ging Chair
Ging chairs are created by a combination of traditional craftsmanship and modern technology. The collection was made to focus on the natural beauty of wood. The form of the chairs is minimal but dynamic. The chairs are made to be comfortable and ergonomic with its round backseat and well positioned recline angle. The stackable function made the chairs more versatile for the different setting.
Within the lineage of organic modernism that emerged from mid-twentieth-century explorations of natural form and continues to inform contemporary furniture practice, Alan Hung's Ging Chair represents a sophisticated meditation on the possibilities of continuous curve design executed in solid timber. The work demonstrates remarkable technical accomplishment in achieving structural integrity through flowing forms that eliminate conventional joinery in favor of seamless transitions between functional elements, suggesting either advanced steam-bending techniques or precision CNC milling followed by meticulous hand finishing. The designer appears to engage with traditions established by masters of sculptural seating, evoking the biomorphic sensibilities of organic modernism while maintaining a contemporary restraint that distinguishes the work from more exuberant historical precedents. Particularly noteworthy is the integration of backrest and armrest into a single continuous element that descends to become the rear legs, creating a structural loop of exceptional visual coherence and engineering elegance. The chromatic choice of pale, nearly bleached wood paired with cool blue upholstery suggests a deliberate palette decision that positions the work within contemporary interior contexts while honoring the material authenticity central to craft-based design philosophies. The seat cushion's gentle curvature and soft textile surface introduce necessary comfort considerations without compromising the sculptural purity of the wooden frame, demonstrating thoughtful balance between aesthetic ambition and functional requirement. One observes in the proportional relationships a careful calibration of human scale, with armrest height, seat depth, and backrest angle appearing optimized for comfortable use while maintaining the visual lightness that gives the design its distinctive character. The presentation of two chairs in dialogue invites consideration of how such pieces might function in domestic or hospitality settings, suggesting versatility that extends from intimate dining configurations to statement accent seating. What aspects of the natural world might have inspired such flowing organic forms, and how does the experience of sitting within these embracing curves differ from more rectilinear seating traditions?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Ging are solid wood chairs which have unique shape, both dynamic and stylish. The design intended to give people strong impression at first sight with its distinct form, also intended to attract people to touch and feel the quality of wood. The chairs are made with latest technology and exceptional craftmanship. The seamless joints made the chair perceived sleek and modern. The chairs are available with or without the armrest. The without armrest version are stackable to make the chairs even more versatile for the different setting.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 540 mm x Depth 520 mm x Height 730 mm
- Tags
- stylish, modern, minimal, light, uniform
- Production Technology
- The chairs are made with solid wood. The chosen materials are oak and beech. The material selection process was based on making the chair perceived as singular form. The chairs are partly made with 5 axis CNC for the more complex shape on backrest. Skilled craftmanship was involved to ensure the chairs' high-quality finish and continuity of the chairs’ form.
- Design Challenge
- During the design phase, we spent a lot of time studying the best way to simplify the construction process, but still keep the overall aesthetic of the form. The overall form was eventually breaking down to five parts, which includes front leg, rear leg, seat, armrest and backrest. The idea is to keep the joint as invisible as possible to make the chair perceived as singular form.
- Project Duration
- The project started in March 2020 in Vancouver, Canada and finished in November 2020.
- Operation Flow
- The chairs are designed to be ergonomic and comfortable in mind. The round backrest design ensures user’s back to rest pleasantly. The char’s reclined angle is optimized for relaxing position. Armrests allow the user to place their arms comfortably but no too bulky to affect the overall form.
- Research
- During the design phase, many studies were investigated on keeping the overall form light, but still have great strength for the structural performance. We studied different joint locations for optimization. Scale models and prototypes were built in the development stage to test the structural rigidity.
- Inspiration
- When I was a child, I remember picking up wood sticks and made my own slingshot. The unique shape of the slingshot inspired the form of the chair. At the same time, it reminds me of the joy and memory when I first made my own craft. The chairs’ form inspired by the slingshot is aesthetically intriguing, and also structurally relating.
Colors of Ging Chair
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