burr puzzle high stool assembled with mortise connections

burr puzzle high stool assembled with mortise connections
all images courtesy of you-de chen + chin-hua lin

the chinese mortise and tenon technique has been widely used on wood pieces for over 7000 years, chinese designers you-de chen and chin-hua lin’s have adapted the method in the ‘burr puzzle’ stool. the main principle of a ‘burr puzzle’ is assembling wood pieces in specific order and limiting each of the pieces movement only by the notches of the wood, which eventually creates a firm and solid connection. a new modern mortise is applied to this furniture piece, as the original wood material is switched for aluminum. the design still follows the core technique, but achieves a more delicate finish and a stronger structure. the entire 42 x 54 x 82 cm stool is assembled only using the metal mortises. the process is similar to playing a puzzle where every part has its own specific place to fit.

assembling the entire stool is like a burr puzzle

the stool is assembled by 9 mortises to become a sustainable structure

seat surface

detail 

mor’tised – high stool

difference between the traditional mortise and modern mortise

milling process of the stool leg

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