楢 nara by en studio
nara 楢 derives from the Japanese word for oak, a tree symbolizing strength, endurance, and natural beauty. Inspired by these qualities, I designed this dining chair using measurements from my own body to define its proportions and comfort. Crafted from red oak, the chair embodies warmth, balance, and an elegant resilience that connects material, form, and the human experience.
Client
UTSA + Patrick Page-Sutter
Year
09/02/2024
Chair Composition
The backrest proved to be a challenging component to design and construct. The main difficulty lay in maintaining a thin profile while ensuring enough structural strength for everyday use. For its primary joinery, the back brace utilizes D8-sized domino connectors, while the interior joints are reinforced with dowel joints to provide additional stability and support.
Similar to the backrest, the seat posed the same challenge, achieving a thin profile while maintaining structural integrity to support even heavier loads. A similar construction method was used, using D8 domino connectors at the main load bearing points and half-through walnut dowel joints at its inner joints that serve both as reinforcement and as a subtle design detail.
The bottom brace of the chair functions as a structural element resisting shear forces, providing necessary stability to the frame. Based on observations from previous prototypes, this component proved essential in maintaining the chair’s alignment and stable under load. Like the seat, its joinery employs D8 domino connectors and half-through dowel joints.
What holds the complexity of the chair together are the legs made of large wooden components joined with D8-sized domino connectors. The intent behind the design was to maintain an organic form that feels cohesive and visually uniform. The sloped hand rest was shaped to slide comfortably beneath a dining table while still offering solid support. Its smooth, rounded edges provide a natural grip and a comfortable resting position for the user seated in the chair.
