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[ 'Liv' System ]
[View full design book here]
2020
LIV //
a shelving system that grows, changes, and adapts to the users' needs using only wood and joinery.
The LIV shelf creates and promotes a long-lasting adaptable design that can be used, fixed, altered, and valued for generations, helping to create a more sustainable future. The nature of the adaptable design creates a flat packed product, with a simple production system of individual components.
Through design details and construction inspired by Japan and Scandinavia, LIV revives and expresses the craft in construction and encourages a strong sense of care and pride in ownership. By utilising expressive joinery, the design combines highly crafted details with creating flexible, adaptive furniture that can be endlessly reconfigured without losing quality. The use of natural material and the evolving nature of the design enables disassembly, and simple recycling or reuse at the end of the object lifetime.
The design remains simple, while celebrating and drawing attention to the construction elements of the dovetail and natural oak wood material. The craft and the attention in the detailing and simple finishing is meant to highlight the inherent qualities of both the materials and joinery, while encouraging user engagement.
LIV considers a variety of ways that different people live, as well as the ways our lives and priorities change through time. The design is receptive to what people want and need in their everyday lives, and able to adapt to changing needs and living spaces.
The resulting product finds a balance between beauty and function - built to last a lifetime.
accommodate + adapt
// framework system for future needs and lifestyle changes
// configurable for individual, personal modifications
perceived value
// investing personal time or preferences, feelings, choices
// putting something of oneself into the product
emotional connections
// express history of construction process
// self expression
// engage consumer in craft
develop + cultivate pride
// self-expression
// express the origins
// unique configuration providing sense of individuality
longevity
// materiality
// constructional integrity
// consumer upkeep and care
associate memories
// interact with frequently, and over time
// inherited
// part of personal history
The stretcher bar (establishing the depth of the shelf system) becomes the key structural element in the design, as it holds both the vertical bars in place, as well as the horizontal shelf surface.
By using a continuous dovetail shape, the vertical bars slide into place while having have limited vertical movement.
Two grooves are cut in the centre to provide places for the horizontal support strips to snap into place and create a rigid frame.
32cm deep // 1,5cm wide // 3,4cm height
Two heights are designed for the vertical components. The taller is sized to have a height of about 30cm between shelves, with the option
to double or triple the spacing by skipping shelves.
The 20cm height provides both an option for tighter spacing, as well as a seating height of 45cm by stacking two from the ground.
On the top and bottom end of
each vertical piece a dovetail shape matching the stretcher cuts through, creating a design that slides together intuitively, while celebrating the construction joinery.
2,4cm deep // 3,6cm wide // 30cm or 20cm height
Two strips, the width of the shelf, are snapped onto the stretcher bars on either side of the shelf. This creates a rigid frame, as well as extra support for the shelf surface.
A small tapered pins is driven through each vertical component at the top and bottom, to secure the pieces together without adhesives.
Over time, these pins pieces may compress or move with seasonal changes, and can be hammered tightly in place as necessary.
strip: 1cm deep // 80cm or 156,4cm wide // 1,9cm height
pin wedge: 4,8cm wide // +/- 0,6cm round
By incorporating a cross lap joint on either end of the shelf surface and along the length of the stretchers, the shelves are ensured to be placed in a consistent location and integrated into the structure.
The shelf boards are constructed with strips of solid oak joined together to form structurally stable shelves that can be refinished and will last for generations.
32cm deep // 80cm or 156,4cm wide // 1,8cm height
To account for the shear movement and provide additional stability, a kumiko inspired screen element is designed into the framework.
Rather than attaching a cross ‘x’ brace to the framework design as is typically seen, the intricacy of the screen pattern provides an additional level of detail, while integrating a necessary structural element into the design.
The vertical pieces on either end of the screen have a small groove that the screen is glued into, creating the rigid element.
0,8cm deep // 72,8cm wide // 24cm height
The long lasting value of LIV challenges the growing production of disposable objects and low-quality materials. The design focuses on longevity and pride in ownership, exploring the emotional connection between the consumer and design. LIV gains personal value over time by building a sense of investment in the furniture and by adapting to remain useful.
LIV utilises combining expressive construction in joinery with crafted details and natural materials, encouraging a close interaction and human touch.
[ View full design book here ]
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