Topographical Chair

The goal was to create a 1:8th scale chair at NYU. The whole concept was inspired by topographical maps, so I used a horizontal stacking approach that highlights each cross-section. I spent quite a bit of time ensuring the parts would lock together seamlessly, each leg features two intersecting support pieces that slot into each other, and there are C-rings that rotate 90 degrees to secure themselves in place. My goal was to avoid glue entirely, but a few tolerance issues meant I had to reinforce some areas with a little wood glue.

In hindsight, I wish I’d doubled up the seat layer to make it sturdier. Right now, there’s a bit of flex when you press down on it, and some diagonal bracing between two seat layers would’ve made it much more stable. Despite this slight drawback, I’m still proud of the end result. It’s a unique piece that really shows off the layering technique, and it was incredibly satisfying to watch all those laser-cut segments come together into one cohesive design.

Topological Inspiration