toolChair

toolChair is designed around two constraints: one square meter of multilayer plywood and a single CNC operation, straight from the machine bed to assembly, with no post-processing or complex joinery.

The backrest is the trick. A milled pattern removes wood in specific places so the remaining material can flex into a curve. Getting there took many prototypes with different spacing and depth: enough flex to be comfortable, without snapping under someone's weight. Fitting every part onto one sheet also meant tight nesting and constant layout tweaks for tool diameter and tear-out.

toolChair won Back to Stool, a competition held by the fabrication studio MioCugino to open its new milling facility, against entries from established industrial designers. It was then exhibited at Fuorisalone during Milan Design Week 2014.