holon institute of technology graduate chen zalkind has created his own studio, ‘ZALKIND’, specializing in furniture and consumer products made using a wide range of materials and technologies. having grown up on a kibbutz, zalkind was surrounded by many industrial factories and small workshops teaching him about the various uses of materials.

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the deconstructed elements of the ‘internal pressure’ chair

 

 

in his latest collection, ‘internal pressure’, zalkind developed a special joint that consists of two wooden dowels that were locked into a pipe using pressure, without the need for glue or screws. ‘the pipe was switched out for a wooden plank and the joints continued to evolve.‘ explains the designer. ‘this stage was full of experimentation with the materials and the many different ways I could use the joint that I was developing.’

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the surfaces of the chair are made using laminate wood in order for the seat to withstand the pressure placed on the joints
all images © ran kushnir

 

 

after the project had a plethora of material to work with from all the experimenting, the next step was the implementation. for this step, zalkind matched each joint to a different piece of furniture. out of dozens, three pieces of furniture were chosen; a chair, a bench and a coat rack. the next stage was to work on the actual design of each of the pieces of furniture. the chair is based on joints where the leg and arm rest meet and are locked into place by the seat of the chair.

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the chair is based on joints where the leg and arm rest meet and are locked into place by the seat of the chair

 

 

due to the strength of the connection there is no need for stretchers between the legs. moreover, every time you sit on the chair it tightens the pressure on the joint and therefore ensures the durability and long life of the chair. the connecting angle between the leg and the arm rest can be adjusted in a way that allows three main advantages: a wide and stable space between the chair’s legs, appropriate space between the armrests and a comfortable backrest angle for the person being seated.

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
due to the strength of the connection, there is no need for stretchers between the legs

 

 

the parts for the bench, chair and coat rack are each created and finished independently, which allows them to be sent in parts to the distribution centers in an effective manner. moreover, the unique pressure connection diminishes the need to use glue or screws — the pieces are made entirely out of one material: wood. this makes the assembly faster, cheaper and eco-friendly. 

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the rear-end of the chair

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
assembly method 

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the leg and arm rest meet and are locked into place by the seat of the chair

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the bench is based on a joint that is made up of two legs, a separation element made from oak, and a locking surface which is used for the bench seat

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the ornamental brass ring clasps the rods to the wooden ‘seed’, thus binding all the pieces together into a product

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the bench seat is made from veneer panels of oak and gaboon, they are placed in a crisscross pattern and laminated together

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the concave shape gives the bench the structural strength

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
the unique pressure connection diminishes the need to use glue or screws

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
a small scale model to test the proportions and design of the backrest

chen zalkind creates a series of wooden furniture using pressure as a bonding method
preliminary sketches

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lynn chaya | designboom