William Warren » seating

Weave Stool

William — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 20:33:35 +0000

Inspired by traditional woven topped seating, this stool is made from four identical plywood forms that weave together to form the seat and legs. The stools are veneered in natural ash or black ash.

The stools were launched at the British Design Embassy during the Milan Design Festival in April 2009.

Silhouette Chair ‘Victoria’

William — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:33:02 +0000

The ‘Victoria’ chair is the wife of ‘Albert’, the Silhouette chair that I designed for Trico in 2001. Both chairs are developed from the shapes of traditional English chairs and made in laminated plywood. The result is an elegant shape, which is aware of the chairs that have gone before it.

Victoria was launched at a solo show in Tokyo called ‘Lovable, Alternative Folk Design, during their design week in December 2007.

Link to chair on Trico’s website

Silhouette Chair ‘Albert’

William — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:29:44 +0000

In England, this is a common shape for a chair. An archetype. The shape has evolved rather than been designed. It originated from the qualities of the wood from which it is constructed and the processes available to make it in the past. It has been reproduced often because it is strong and comfortable.

My version of the chair is made in laminated plywood. This process works by gluing together thin sheets or ‘veneers’ of wood over a mould. A technique commonly used to produce seating, pioneered by Charles Eames in the 1940’s.

This chair is either the ‘wrong’ shape for the process or the ‘wrong’ process for the shape, but ultimately it is a chair that is aware of its heritage.

This chair was the first piece of furniture I developed for Trico. They launched it in a solo show in Tokyo in 2001.

Link to chair on Trico’s website

Pub Sofa and Armchairs

William — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:28:23 +0000

The Pub Sofa and Armchairs carry the traditional within the modern. The simple modern cube sofa contains the memories of older sofa styles. The deep buttoned velvet sofa is at a slight angle to the exterior to reinforce the two at slightly at odds with each other.

The sofa and armchairs were launched at a solo show in Tokyo called ‘Lovable, Alternative Folk Design, during their design week in December 2007.

Link to sofa on Trico’s website

Link to armchair on Trico’s website

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FFF Workbench and Stools

William — Thu, 03 Oct 2002 16:04:49 +0000

The FFF Workbench is designed to better suit the developments in the new curriculum for secondary school Design and Technology lessons. It has a replaceable Linoleum top for written and drawing work and a solid beech edge for more demanding practical work. The Lino has a graphic in the centre that aims to provide ‘Incidental learning’ by showing technical details in everyday objects such as radius, inside diameter, cubic measurements and isometric views. The workbench has rulers set into its edges and legs so students can quickly calculate approximate measurements.

There are coat hooks under the table surface, a brush, a central board for bags and locations for Gratnells plastic trays, all designed to keep the working area clean. The benches are designed to be used seated on stools or standing and they have an adjustable height leg. The tables also have square flat sides so they can be pushed together or kept as individual units. There is a hole in the centre of the table for cable management, that keeps the tables options open for changing technologies.

The Ergo stool has four leg rests at different heights on each side so that it can be rotated to fit different heights of school children. The stools can be fitted into the workbench to help keep the workshop tidy and safe.

Designed with Carl Clerkin, the FFF workbench and Ergo stool was developed in collaboration with manufacturer Emir. The project was awarded as a commission from the Design Council following a competitive bidding phase.

Link to the workstation on the Emir website.