Strata Chair

Strata Chair

Strata Chair is an innovative furniture design that seamlessly merges sculptural artistry with functional seating, created by architect Ben Preston. This remarkable piece exemplifies the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and modern digital fabrication techniques, constructed entirely from high-grade 12mm birch plywood and pine dowels. The chair's distinctive design features 473 individual 'brick-like' components that are precisely cut using CNC technology and meticulously assembled by hand in a spiral pattern reminiscent of architectural brickwork. The design's conceptual foundation rests on the principle of 'complementary juxtaposition,' where the rough, textured exterior contrasts dramatically with highly polished interior surfaces, creating an experience analogous to discovering a geode's crystalline interior. Standing at dimensions of 1066W x 1066D x 914H millimeters, the chair incorporates a removable footrest that, when placed on the seat, transforms the piece into a purely sculptural form. The design, which earned the prestigious Golden A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category in 2015, represents a significant achievement in contemporary furniture design through its innovative use of materials, digital modeling capabilities, and traditional assembly methods. The chair's construction process, building from the middle layer outward in a dome-like structure, demonstrates exceptional problem-solving in both material optimization and assembly methodology, while the rotating courses of plywood create an intricate play of shadows that reveals the piece's structural composition.

furniture design, sculptural seating, digital fabrication, plywood construction, architectural furniture, contemporary design

— Adam Dawson

CITATION : "Adam Dawson. 'Strata Chair.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/strata-chair?E=448025 (Accessed on October 14, 2026)"