Gold Furniture Design · 2021
Square and Round A Multifunctional Stool
by Xu Le
- A' Design Award 2021 Gold Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Hangzhou Great Wisdom Creative Design Co., Ltd
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 38,930
- Verification code B2B609717E · Verify this award
About Square and Round A Multifunctional Stool
Square and Round is a multifunctional seat made of beech wood and acrylic. The transparent acrylic surface reveals the internal wooden structure. Placed one way, the surface forms a light seat. Turned upside down, the same surface becomes a side table with a recess that holds keys and other small objects. The parts are joined by a traditional double dovetail key structure, so no metal connectors are used. The seat can be taken apart by hand once the locking key is found. Flat packing reduces the transport volume.
Working within a contemporary design tradition that honors both Scandinavian craft sensibility and modernist material experimentation, this multifunctional stool by Xu Le demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how disparate materials can engage in productive visual and functional dialogue. The design appears to meditate upon fundamental geometric relationships—the circle of the transparent top conversing with the square connector block, the vertical thrust of tapered legs counterbalanced by horizontal surface planes—suggesting an awareness of classical proportion systems adapted for contemporary domestic contexts. The choice of warm-toned beechwood for the structural supports evokes craft traditions emphasizing natural material integrity, while the acrylic disc introduces an element of visual surprise, its transparency creating the illusion that objects placed upon it float in space rather than resting on solid surface. Technical accomplishment manifests in the precise joinery where wood meets wood at the central connector, and in the seamless integration of the acrylic top with its wooden hub. The splayed leg configuration references mid-century modern furniture conventions while the material combination introduces contemporary freshness. One might observe how the design invites multiple functional interpretations—as stool, side table, plant stand, or display pedestal—this versatility reflecting thoughtful consideration of how objects participate in domestic life. The presence of a single pine cone in the presentation image suggests the designer's intention that natural objects find harmonious residence upon these manufactured surfaces. Viewers may wish to contemplate how this design balances the seemingly opposing values of transparency and solidity, nature and manufacture, tradition and innovation.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Square and Round stool is designed for 90’s life characteristics. The whole designed material is original wood and acrylic. The surface of the stool is made up of transparent acrylic, which can well show the internal structure and bring the new visual experience for people. When you put the stool surface straightly, it will be a very light one; When you put the stool surface upside down, it will be a side table and can put keys or some other small objects that may easy to lost inside. The connected method is using traditional double dovetail key structure, without any “metal connection” . If you get the key point you can dismount it by hand, and you will enjoy by your thinking and doing. The shape of the stool is concise and elegant, which is a highly integrated product that combination of structure, aesthetics, wisdom and technology. Flat packaging design greatly reduces transportation costs that will be very suitable for online sailing.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Product Size: 320*320*450 (mm) Product weight: 1.8 kg Product volume: 0.1 m3
- Tags
- S，A，R
- Production Technology
- Production technology: wood bending process. Materials: Beech
- Design Challenge
- The structural design of the product is the most difficult part. After research and demonstration, an innovative Luban lock structure was finally designed. Only when it is unlocked can the stool be disassembled.
- Project Duration
- The project started in April 2017 in Hangzhou and finished in August 2019 in Hangzhou.
- Operation Flow
- When you put the stool surface straightly, it will be a very light one; When you put the stool surface upside down, it will be a side table and can put keys or some other small objects that may easy to lost inside. The connected method is using traditional double dovetail key structure, without any “metal connection” . If you get the key point you can dismount it by hand, and you will enjoy by your thinking and doing.
- Research
- Design instruction
Square and Round, focus on orbicular sky and rectangular earth, deep ancient culture, Luban lock principle, innovative applications and tenon connection. Inside, hidden mystery and be pointless that difficult to complete the registration. The design skillfully rendered size ingenuity.
The Square and Round stool is designed for 90’s life characteristics. The whole designed material is original wood and acrylic. The surface of the stool is made up of transparent acrylic, which can well show the internal structure and bring the new visual experience for people. When you put the stool surface straightly, it will be a very light one; When you put the stool surface upside down, it will be a side table and can put keys or some other small objects that may easy to lost inside. The connected method is using traditional double dovetail key structure, without any “metal connection” . If you get the key point you can dismount it by hand, and you will enjoy by your thinking and doing. The shape of the stool is concise and elegant, which is a highly integrated product that combination of structure, aesthetics, wisdom and technology. Flat packaging design greatly reduces transportation costs that will be very suitable for online sailing. - Inspiration
- Square and Round, focus on orbicular sky and rectangular earth, deep ancient culture, Luban lock principle, innovative applications and tenon connection. Inside, hidden mystery and be pointless that difficult to complete the registration. The design skillfully rendered size ingenuity.
Colors of Square and Round A Multifunctional Stool
Get Square and Round A Multifunctional Stool
Innovative Furniture Design Consultation
We blend traditional cultural wisdom with contemporary design to create award-winning furniture pieces. Our expertise combines ancient craftsmanship principles with modern functionality, delivering products that are both intellectually engaging and commercially successful.
G0E9 Shop