Weekly Response #4

The cardboard stool project is an assignment that I will never forget. This project was the most challenging, yet rewarding exercises I have ever had to complete so far at Michigan. I would not consider myself a skillful craftsman, or even someone who has much experience with their hands, but I was able to create a stable stool after many iterations. At the start of the project, I really had no idea the direction I should take because I had never worked with cardboard before. In class, we were introduced to the quintessential definition of architecture as that of Vitruvius, who focused on three main areas of importance: utility, firmness, and delight. I built my stool with this definition in mind.  Its utility was that it achieved the project’s goal through a solid base that was able to support two people. The triangular base reflected the firmness of the stool, which created the strong foundation for the stool.  And since we are all Wolverines, I quickly knew that I wanted to make my project: the tailgate stool. The blue paintjob with a maize cup-holder adds not only school spirit, but also a delightful gaming experience.

The design of my stool came after four iterations. I started with creating a zigzag like jointing mechanism, where the stool would be fastened by many interlocking pieces. My second model looked more for like a normal stool you would see at a kitchen table, but I found that my weight was too heavy and the legs would bend outward. My third and fourth models represent my first and final draft of the project. I focused my attention on creating the most stable firmness. I chose to make my stool triangular because it was the most secure of all the iterations I tried. I found that the triangle provides enough space for two people, and I used a cross-fold in the back to make the tension support itself. There are sort of two triangles within the stool. There is an inner lying of cardboard that are opposite each other, and then two flaps fold over each other to create the triangle.

The construction of the cup-holder was very difficult. I used a tab-and slot mechanism of creating the circular base. One thin sheet wraps into a circle and is jointed together with tabs. The circular cardboard base is separate and is jointed through vertical tabs. Then the “cup” is fastened by another strip of cardboard around it and attached through slits in a front panel of the stool.

Rasmussen in “Experiencing Architecture” explained that architecture “means shapes formed around man, formed to be lived in, not merely to be seen from the outside”. This quote really resonated with me and my construction of the stool because I wanted to make a piece that I would actually use and could aesthetically fit in my room. I really learned a lot through this project!