design process
prototyping
Stage 1:
prototyping
working with designers Future Practical, we built an array of prototypes to understand what is possible within our workshop machinery.
this involved flat-pack concepts, extruded beams made using custom-built jigs, and a fully plastic moulded design.
Through this process we learnt about the weight challenges of using fully formed plastic to form lightweight, sturdy chairs with arms to meet our accessibility aims.
Stage 2: refinement
Once we had developed a bespoke wooden jig to shape our plastic sheeting, we opted for reclaimed metal frames to offer a lightweight, stackable and quality finish, paired with a quality frame with arms to ensure our accessiblity goals.
Made IN GOVANHILL
The Pond chairs you see today have been designed collaboratively by local artists and makers in govanhill, Glasgow.
the team from Govanhill Baths Community Trust, includes; Tiziano Galli (Plastics technician), Anna Vlassova-Longworth (Woodworker), Jack Hutchcroft (Woodworker) and Lauren Hooper (Project Manager) with Creative direction Naomi LeComte from January Mae Design Studio.
plastic chair prototypying by artists Peter and Maria from future practical.
Each chair is the product of several years of development looking at plastic waste and turning it into something beautiful.
Stage 3:
Production
once the design was refined we began collecting and processing the ex-consumer waste required for a limited edition batch.
50kg of HDPE (2) & PP(5) plastic was divered from landfill, this included; plastic bottles, food containers, detergant bottles, dvd cases and broken toys from local businesses and collected from the local area.
the plastic was then washed, sorted by colour, then chipped using an industrial chipper. the ground plastic is then poured into our mould and heated in a heat press.
the elements of the chair are then cut, transfered to our bespoke wooden former then pressed individully to create the desired bend.
each chair is then carefully constructed with the help of a team of local volunteers.
