Weekly Response #4

My stool project started out with many ambitious ideas about geometry and tectonics. I initially wanted to create a stool that had an "unstable" design as discussed in the very first lecture, and I explored the many different ways of creating joints to create that design. However, I soon discovered that cardboard did not have the material complexity needed to make a convincing tectonic argument so I created an "unstable" design in another way.

I got my inspiration for the final design from the common cardboard shipping box. From everyday experiences with ordinary cardboard boxes, I learned that it is possible to create a sturdy design that won't collapse on itself by simply overlapping each panel of cardboard over the other. This method eliminates tabbing and creates a completely different type of joint that is presents a simple and clean aesthetic. This method of combining the panels also allows for an interesting design, particularly one that is symmetric along the center vertical axis.

The geometry of my stool was intended to so I could repeat my overlapping method many times for emphasis and to ornament my stool. As discussed in the ornamentation lecture, my ornamentation follows the example of modern ornamentation. That is, the ornamentation of my stool is repeated throughout the design and contributes an essential detail to my design. Although as with all ornamentation, the complex geometry serves no role in the tectonics of the design and is completely useless in supporting any weight. The entirety of the weight is supported by the "walls" of the stool.

Although there are a lot of overlapping and empty spaces in my stool, the entire stool is made from a single piece of cardboard. This not only strengthens the stool, but also makes an interesting continuity argument. For example, at every edge of the stool it is evident that each face of the stool is connected to the rest, but the overlapping panels at the top of the stool make each segment of the stool seem disconnected from the other.

Overall, this project was very enjoyable albeit quite time consuming. Creating an original design based off an interesting geometry was rewarding, although I wish that I had challenged the tectonics my design a bit more.