Dialog by Design, Making Chairs
At the Residency Unlimited House on Governor's Island
Following the first two workshops, which focused on 2D representation and paper-
making with GrowNYC on Governor’s Island, the third workshop shifted toward exploring the human scale through furniture building.
making with GrowNYC on Governor’s Island, the third workshop shifted toward exploring the human scale through furniture building.
Participants with varying levels of building experience—some having never used a drill or handsaw—were invited to reinterpret Enzo Mari’s seminal “Sedia 1” chair using basic construction techniques within a five-hour period.
Reclaimed wood scraps, donated by Tri-Lox, served as the basis for the project, allowing it to be interpreted in different ways according to the materials’ varying dimensions, textures, and colors. As the first 3D exercise, we provided a full-scale (1:1) template that could be referenced and measured directly, eliminating the need for imperial or metric units.
Throughout the workshop, participants explored proportion and comfort together, gaining proficiency with both hand and power tools while shaping their learning through the shared practice of building.
