Baralho Armchair

Baralho Armchair is an innovative contemporary furniture design that exemplifies the fusion of geometric precision and artistic expression through its striking composition of pure forms and straight lines. Created by Brazilian architect Flávio Melo Franco in 2013, this distinctive seating solution draws inspiration from the aesthetic lightness of a house of cards, manifesting this concept through carefully engineered folds and welds in brushed aluminum. The chair's bold structural design, measuring 1180 x 600 x 650 millimeters, challenges conventional material limitations while maintaining remarkable stability through strategic welding points between the seat, back, and base components. Initially prototyped in iron sheet which proved prohibitively heavy at 45 kilograms, the final design utilizes 3mm thick brushed aluminum, chosen specifically for its optimal balance of strength and lightness. The manufacturing process involves precise cold bending techniques and specialized industrial machinery, with the option for automotive paint finishing in various colors. The armchair's contemporary aesthetic is achieved through its minimalist approach, where geometric planes appear to delicately support one another, creating an illusion of floating elements while maintaining structural integrity. This remarkable design earned recognition with a Silver A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category, acknowledging its innovative approach to material usage and aesthetic achievement. The development process, spanning approximately five months in Teresina, Brazil, resulted in a piece that successfully combines functionality with sculptural elegance, representing a significant contribution to contemporary furniture design through its unique interpretation of form and material manipulation.

Author: Adam Dawson

Keywords: contemporary furniture design, geometric minimalism, brushed aluminum construction, architectural seating, Brazilian design innovation, sculptural furniture elements

SOURCES:
https://competition.adesignaward.com/31864

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