Gemini for Artifort has been designed as individual furniture pieces which can be placed as single seating elements, in pairs or in groups of various sizes and configurations. The concept for the design of the chair centers on flexibility of movement, versatility in seating positions and variety in spatial experiences.
Set upon an asymmetric frame, the generously proportioned single-surface body of the chair curves towards the floor on one side and arches upwards to form both an arm and a backrest on the other. This contoured composition affords the user variety in seating positions and directionality: they can sit up, slouch, lounge, hang, repose or hunker, but they can also shift, twist, turn, swing around, pivot to face each other or turn towards the room.
Spatially Gemini introduces varying visual orientations of the spaces in which the chairs are placed and offers the possibility to choose between sitting alone, sitting together or simply enjoying different views of the surrounding space. When coupled with either its direct twin or its mirrored twin, the nonsymmetrical silhouette of both the frame and the soft element transforms to create a curvilinear symmetry.
The horizontally subdivided soft body of the chairs can be upholstered in up to four different ways. Gemini can be used in private, public and semi-public settings, such as waiting areas, lobbies, offices, lounge areas and libraries.
The asymmetrically-designed sofa base has a powder-coat finish. The seat shell with its gentle zigzag form consists of a metal insert that is padded with foam as a whole (foamed-frame technique). The seat shell is then covered with Dacron (Polyethylene terephthalate, or Terylene) and upholstered with a stretchy fabric. The horizontal surface division is reinforced with the aid of a special upholstery technique. There are four types of upholstery available, in one or two colours.
The small matching table consists of a metal frame covered with cut foam and Dacron, after which the underside is upholstered using a stretchy fabric. The tabletop is made of 45-mm thick solid oak and is finished with an oil from the Artifort collection.
Lande Group has a 3D milling cutter for aluminium at its disposal, which it uses to produce the foam moulds for the Artifort designs itself. In this way, the Lande Group/Artifort maintains an optimum design, comfort level, and quality level.
Designer: UNStudio Ben van Berkel
Netherlands
