sam weller: snelson stool

‘the snelson stool’ by sam weller

british designer sam weller developed ‘the snelson stool’, influenced by kenneth snelson’s sculptural works that are built around the principle of tensegrity, a name later coined by american polymath buckminster fuller. with the ability for a structure to be held together by the continuous constriction of binding string components, the conception uses tension to hold together the rigid elements, which never touch one another. a variety of american hardwoods were used in the production process for the stools including white oak, cherry, black walnut and ash, showcasing their strength as well as their respective aesthetic appeal.

‘the snelson stool was exhibited at the victoria & albert museum in london during london design week 2012 along with a collection of 11 other hardwood chairs as part of ahec’s ‘out of the woods’ project with the royal college of art.

out of the woods exhibition at the v&a

  snelson photographed in the woods of berkshire by petr krejcí

sam making the nelson stool at the benchmark workshop in berkshire

  kenneth snelsons needle tower II in the netherlands