George Gibbens Presents The Slank Chair

The Slank Occasional Chair by George Gibbens draws inspiration from the concept of an open-ended labyrinth and applies it to an episodical context. It’s a masterfully designed piece that acts as a statement in any setting.

George Gibbens has been described as a mindful innovator. His work intersects with many domains from furniture, high-end goods, technology, architecture and manufacturing. The Slank Occasional Chair is no exception. It is a beautiful, intricate piece that sets the tone for modern living.

Design

The continuous loop of the original concept is abandoned and instead, it is divided into independent components to fit alongside the new context of occasional furniture.

The chair is constructed from panels that are spaced apart and tensioned together. Each panel consist of interlocking pieces of European Beech made using precision manufacturing processes.

The inward curve encourages interconnection and creates a feeling of integration. This slight curve also serves a practical function by making the chair more compatible with the human form.

Concept

The design is inspired by a unicursal labyrinth, meaning it is open at both ends. This philosophy was applied to create an interactive installation for people to engage with.

It is appropriate in the context of educational institutions due to its ability to stimulate creative thought, facilitate enlightenment, and open up deep insights.

Process

Each panel requires 16 unique parts that are cut from pieces of light European beech using a CNC milling process. The resulting parts are hand sanded before undergoing a multi-stage treatment process.

The assembly uses bolts and screws to form a continuous loop. A spacer is introduced between succeeding panels for uniformity, resulting in a moiré pattern. This action repeats until the necessary width is achieved.

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