“A chair is a very difficult object. A skyscraper is almost easier. That is why Chippendale is famous” quoted the eminent architect Ludwig Meis van Der Rohe. The quote cannot be more valid even in the present-day era swamped with software and technology. A chair is one of those pieces of furniture that ought to give you an instant sense of relief and relaxation once occupied. These expectations from a chair don’t end with just the right comfort. It should be appealing, boisterous, poised, decorous, and fancy at the same time. To top it all up, a versatile chair that instantly lights up the interiors and acts as the cynosure is rare and one needs to put in adept design senses and conceptualization.
“Far from the conventional methods of furniture design, AVVO has redefined their design ideology and pronounced their willingness to experiment through this impressionable seating motif.” – Nishal Sevak(Co-Editor)
Chair Design – XOXO, By A Mumbai Based Architect Raj Kothari | AVVO
VISIT : AVVO
A timeless and durable material, known for its superior strength and aesthetics join hands to become the seating as well as the foot of the product. It’s a water-based PU polished Burma teak wood cantilevered to form the seat
Cantilevering the seat over the diagonally-placed curved acrylic is a challenge in itself as the role here is to bear and distribute the weight all along. Pertaining to the versatility of design, the seat can be wrapped in a variety of fabrics and tapestries. Hence, a lot of room to play with colors and textures.
One such product is the chair design – XOXO, by a Mumbai based architect Raj Kothari, where the conceptualization and design are done by the architect himself, founder of “Avvo” Architects. It’s an extraordinary chair that succumbs to all the aspects of ‘a modern art imbibed in a piece of furniture’.
It is aesthetically elegant, boisterously luxurious, and sophisticatedly comfortable. The intended concept was to design a chair that is an instant interior uplifter. A chair that can intuitively act as a piece of art wherever positioned. It’s a deployment of luxurious materials namely the acrylic sheet, the famous age-old Burma teak, and a piece of opulent woven fabric.
The design is minimal and sophisticated wherein the form narrates its modern associations with contemporary interiors and art forms. Indeed, a perfect exemplar that blurs the lines between art and furniture designs!
The corners of the seat are rounded, adding to the soothing feel- intentionally avoiding the edgy geometries for this piece of modern art. Besides, its rounded corners and pudgy soft seating makes it a chic corner chair for reading, lounging, or sipping on a cold coffee on a warm summer day.
Two wooden rods run from underneath the seat and permeate the acrylic back support to become the legs of the chair ( hence, the name XOXO). This requires a high degree of accuracy and craftsmanship. And, a high sense of material workability.
Creating the right balance pertaining to the strength of materials and thus, curating a successful joinery is again a challenge in itself.
The chair can even be paired with the firm’s sleek center table made from the same acrylic stone and matte black stainless steel support.
The name of the product, XOXO, is derived from its shape as viewed from the front by the interlocking of the cross-wood members through the stone backrest to give its cantilevered support. It weighs 20 Kg. The dimensions are- Height: 35”, Width: 22”, and Depth: 25”.
Throwing more light upon the design, a monolithic natural acrylic stone curves itself to become the core skeleton where the diagonal curvature makes the backrest while also becoming the legs of the unit. This acrylic is available in two colors- black and white.
It is inclined at a perfect angle of 75 degrees to convey an appropriate sense of relaxation to its users.
This product design demanded a great deal of trial and error. Choosing the right order of material and achieving a perfectly balanced chair can get tedious. A durable and breathtaking design is something that ends the journey of process and design.
AVVO is a multidisciplinary firm established in 2019 providing full-service luxury architecture, interior design, and contracting work. We are based mainly in Mumbai but work across the country. The firm’s work encompasses diverse residential, commercial, and industrial projects.
We believe in a minimalistic, elegant, and clean aesthetic. All in all, AVVO strives to blend the lines between space, architecture and art, and take it to a global platform
FACT FILE
Designed by : AVVO
Project Type : Commercial
Project Name : XOXO
Location : Mumbai
Year Built : 2023
Dimensions : Height 35” Width 22” Depth 25”
Weight : 20 Kgs
Principal Architect : Ar. Raj Kothari
Photograph Courtesy : Kanak
Styled by : Design & July
In Frame : Tejaswi Yadav
Outfit by : Exstra
Text Credits : Ar. Megha Hirani
Executed by : Vntuno Furnitures
Natural Acrylic Stone by : LG Hausys Hi-Macs
Firm’s Website Link : AVVO
Firm’s Instagram Link : AVVO
Firm’s Facebook Link : AVVO
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