Mekanno Chair
From Design+Encyclopedia, the free encyclopedia on good design, art, architecture, creativity, engineering and innovation.
Mekanno Chair
Mekanno Chair is an innovative furniture design that reimagines childhood construction toys as sophisticated functional furniture, created by Portuguese designer Jose Santa-Clara. This distinctive chair design, which earned a Bronze A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, ingeniously scales up the classic mechanical construction system concept to create a full-sized, functional seating solution. The chair's framework consists of enlarged metal strips, precisely scaled up from 1/2-inch to 40mm, forming two isostatic side frame structures that pay homage to traditional construction toy aesthetics while delivering practical functionality. The design incorporates threaded steel rods covered with high-density foam and upholstered in nappa leather, creating comfortable cushion rolls particularly suited for active sitting. The chair's structural integrity is enhanced through the thoughtful integration of hawthorn wood, selected for both its yellowish hue and historical significance in fine woodworking, which provides essential transverse rigidity. The design, measuring 500mm x 460mm x 770mm, showcases a harmonious blend of industrial materials including lacquered aluminum strips with perforated 13mm diameter holes, stainless steel M12 threaded rods, and cap nuts, all while maintaining a sophisticated aesthetic that draws from the iconic green and red color scheme of mid-twentieth-century construction toys. This furniture piece represents a remarkable fusion of nostalgia and contemporary design, demonstrating innovative material application and manufacturing simplicity, as all components can be sourced from standard DIY stores, making it an exemplar of accessible yet refined furniture design.
furniture design, construction toy inspiration, modular seating, aluminum framework, ergonomic design, contemporary furniture
CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Mekanno Chair.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/mekanno-chair?E=450153 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"
Mekanno Chair on Design+Encyclopedia
We have 220,822 Topics and 478,829 Entries and Mekanno Chair has 1 entries on Design+Encyclopedia. Design+Encyclopedia is a free encyclopedia, written collaboratively by designers, creators, artists, innovators and architects. Become a contributor and expand our knowledge on Mekanno Chair today.