04/26/2017
KCBA Architects is proud to participate in the “Chair-ity” Art Auction on April 26, 2017 in Bethlehem, PA. Hosted and sponsored by Corporate Environments, A One Point Company, the auction benefits Valley Youth House, a provider of services to homeless and vulnerable children throughout Pennsylvania.
Auction lots consist of chairs that have been transformed into art pieces by a number of architectural and design firms from eastern Pennsylvania. All firms began with the iconic Herman Miller Eames molded plastic chair and were encouraged to creatively reimagine the piece with no guidelines or restrictions.
Two teams of KCBA staff members were formed and participated in the planning, design, materials procurement, and construction processes over several weeks ahead of the auction. Two divergent but equally ambitious approaches were conceived and pursued.
“Team Bench” deconstructed and reconfigured the chair to create an “Eames Bench”. Vertically sawed in half, the two chair segments became the bench bookends and were linked via three walnut wood slabs and rope backing. The concept explores the juxtaposition between natural, hand-crafted materials and the original chair’s mechanized, industrial chrome and plastic composition.
“Team Swing” explored a more playful approach reflective of the Valley Youth House’s focus on children. The original Eames chair is based on the principle of adaptability wherein its applications include offices, institutions, schools, and homes. By converting the original chair into a suspended swing, KCBA’s team has now expanded this list to include indoor play places. This was achieved by removing the legs, imbedding the chair in a circular metal frame, and integrating a rope system by which the swing is affixed to the ceiling.
Members from both KCBA teams will attend the auction on April 26th.
