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Repose Lounge Chair: Merging Artisanal Timber Techniques with Modern Comfort and Design Innovation

The Repose lounge chair, designed and crafted by John G Williams in Johannesburg, South Africa, has been recognized with the prestigious Iron A' Furniture Design Award for 2019. This accolade celebrates the chair's unique approach to solid timber construction, where traditional coopering methods are pushed to new extremes to create a sculptural, ergonomic lounge seat. Inspired by the design language of the Beke and Zene dining ranges, Repose explores how a modern shell form can be realized in hardwood, resulting in a piece that is both visually striking and profoundly comfortable.

Unlike typical lounge chairs that rely on moulded or upholstered forms, Repose is meticulously constructed from American Ash and Walnut using advanced joinery and coopering techniques. The seat's deep, sweeping curves are achieved by laminating angled timber staves, while the rear legs are steam bent for stability and elegance. Custom tooling was developed to machine the large concave surfaces, and the chair's arms retain a subtle segmented texture that hints at its artisanal origins. The design supports a variety of seated postures and makes rising from the chair effortless, combining functionality with a sense of sculptural artistry.

The project was conceived and prototyped over eight weeks, beginning in December 2018, with ongoing refinements to ensure both strength and comfort. Challenges such as reinforcing the armrests and achieving the desired ergonomic support were overcome through innovative engineering and trial-and-error testing. The result is a lounge chair that rivals upholstered counterparts in comfort while showcasing the natural beauty and craftsmanship of solid hardwood. The Repose chair stands as a testament to the possibilities of contemporary timber furniture, offering a luxurious yet minimalist statement piece for discerning interiors.

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