this type of furniture or, new trend (because thats what it is), makes a virtue of ’simplicity’ at the expense of visual interest. Simplicity is being used as a convenient euphemism for banality. The absence of an discernible aesthetic makes all the designers with a lazy imagination feel better, which is why they’re so eager to promote it.

We don’t know if it’s comfortable or not until we sit in it. In fact, if you read Galen Cranz’s book “The Chair: Rethinking Culture, Body and Design”, it seems like this chair might be better for us – flat planes allow us to wiggle about and not be locked into one posture.

Some people must be hooked on the gimick; the hollow novelty. I find it refreshing to look at something well made, that’s not trying too hard to be something new and loud, but that still has a personality.

Ataxia, I think you must actually be a woodworker, which is nice, but I don’t see why the dowels in the half-laps must be screw caps – why can’t they just be dowels? That’s a very traditional way to finish off these joints. Before there were modern glues that would do the trick, wedged or pinned dowels added a mechanical element. The dowels are a nod to the craft, and I appreciate how they further integrate the separate pieces of the chair. I would have liked it if the seat back had them too, just for consistency and aesthetics.

I also don’t understand why the half laps would weaken the chair – again, it’s a common and time-tested joint.

what are you talking about? “Good use of color change at the ends.. this adds structural legibility.”

It’s the end grain, it is always darker when applied with stain or any finish due to the very make-up of wood.

And what would adding “pegs” that penetrate the back rest do? add structure or rigidity? no.

and while we are critiquing the joinery… I can only assume that the dowel plugs in the half lap joints seen in the legs are there to cap screws. What really confuses me is that adding a screw in a joint like that wouldn’t serve any purpose, unless it was a purely aesthetic choice. So in a chair that appears to be celebrating simple wood working joints, and an unerstated demeanor what is with extra step? For me this confuses the intent, and takes away from whatever it is attempting to be. And why aren’t there plugs on the backrests screw holes when they are everywhere else on the chair?….

argh, I don’t even hate the chair. I have no idea why I’m carrying on like this