Making a Custom Bench with Furniture Designer and Fabricator, The Long Confidence
Concept Image: Josef Frank, 1950s
The Brief
The clients were hoping to make their large and wide dining room look a little more complete and furnished. So we decided to add a credenza for extra storage and a sculptural bench, that would be beautiful to look at and light weight so that it could be easily pulled up to the table or into the adjacent living room for extra seating.
Floor Plan Study
The Concept
Josef Frank (1885–1967) was an Austrian furniture designer who emigrated to Sweden in the 1930’s to start a wonderful, prolific and long-lasting career with Swedish design firm, Svenskt Tenn. (Svenskt Tenn still exists and continues to offer new production furniture - do check them out.) A contemporary of Le Corbusier, who was primarily know for his stark approach to modern design, Frank’s work in contrast valued warmth and beauty as well as practicality. Not surprisingly, these design ideals were well aligned with the Swedish traditional ideals for the home. I love this original Frank bench because it ticks all the right boxes for me, it’s practical and lightweight but also beautiful and complex in design - without tipping over into something that is overworked or flamboyant. Finally and importantly, because it is made by hand, it should definitely look hand-crafted.
Review and Selection of Wood Samples
Development of Shape with The Long Confidence
The Collaborator
Rafi Ajl is the owner of the Long Confidence. He is brilliant to work with! Please check out his website to see all of his beautiful wood, metal and glass work. You can own his pieces by shopping on his website, he also is represented by two wonderful homeware stores, March (local SF) and Spartan Shop (Portland); among many other great places!
Prototype - Do We Need to Add a Fifth Leg for Stability?
Prototype - Seat Shape
Prototype - Final Design with 4 Legs - Leg Splay Needed to be Adjusted to Make the Bench Stable
Discussion of Fabric Print Direction with The Long Confidence
Development of Seat Proportions with The Long Confidence
Final Bench Installed - Hurray!
