1997
arflex Kite chairs
このプロトタイプはArflexの新しい東京ショールームのエントランス・ステージに飾られたが、製造は非常に難しく量産されることはなかった。しかし、このプロジェクトは山中俊治の最初の家具デザインであり、その後の「人の体にフィットする有機的なスタイル」の出発点となったものである。
素材: 繊維強化プラスチック、綿布、ポリウレタンフォーム、アルミニウム
寸法: 805 x 1890 x 1240mm
プロジェクト開始: 1996年2月
デザイン: 山中俊治
コンセプトワーク: 坂井直樹
クライアント: アルフレックスジャパン株式会社
Kite chairs were conceived in 1994 for Italian furniture manufacturer Arflex in response to their request for a line of furniture that utilizes a unique material or manufacturing technique. The design was inspired by Ittan-momen, an imaginary Japanese monster that looks like a strip of white cotton cloth and floats in the air. Yamanaka has materialized a fantasy where "a piece of vibrant fabric supports the human body, and moves gracefully and lightly."
The smooth ergonomic curve reminiscent of the monster is realized via application of race car seat fabrication technology that utilizes fiber-reinforced plastics and complex laminated fabrics.
Kite chairs were displayed at the entrance stage of Arflex's newly constructed Tokyo showroom; however, due to the extremely challenging manufacturing process, they were never put into mass production. Nonetheless, this project marked Shunji Yamanaka's initial endeavor in furniture design and served as the foundation for a subsequent "organic style that embraces the human body.".
MATERIAL: Fiber-reinforced plastic, Cotton fabric, Polyurethane foam, Aluminum
DIMENSION: 805 x 1890 x 1240mm
PROJECT STARTED: February 1996 / COMPLETED: March 1997
DESIGNER: Shunji Yamanaka
CONCEPT WORK: Naoki Sakai
CLIENT: ARFLEX JAPAN Ltd.
