Nailed seats

Benches and a table for the presentation of the seminar on hammers and sandcastles and the Rundgang at the HfG. In the future this furniture can be used for any kind of sitting.

All furniture will be characterized by two connecting restrictions: a) it is build of the same type of board; and b) it uses hammer and nail as joinery technique. The students work in groups of two on planning and building a bench (or several) per group. Each group has a given set of 10 boards (2,4 x 12 x 250 cm). Additionally we will build one table which will be a nailed copy of the “Eiermann”-table.

For the work on your design and construction, please note…

  1. Start your design from one basic idea and work on a sketch.
  2. Once the sketch is done, draw it again focusing on technical feasability, structural stability, economic use of wood. This second step is always very benificial for your design.
  3. For inspiration and technique see constructions with nails and average seating measurements.
  4. Try to use as little wood as possible; leftover wood can be used for other and future projects.
  5. The sawn wood is rather rough, consider some sanding.

To prepare for the construction…

For the construction of your furniture, you need a drawing and notes with at least the following information:

  1. A visual understanding of your furniture object.
  2. A list of all its composing pieces and their respective dimensions.
  3. Where are its pieces placed and how do they join together.
  4. Your drawings can be made by hand or computer.
  5. Create a page on this wiki for your design/plans and reference it in the list of furniture projects below.

For example on the page of the Enzomann table you will find a plan (.pdf) with all necessary elements for construction:

  1. A top, side and front view.
  2. Dimensions and placement of all composing pieces.
  3. A list of all pieces with dimensions.
  4. A plan of how all pieces can be cut out of 2,5m long wooden boards (on page 2).

What to bring…

  1. Your plans (see above).
  2. Your hammer.
  3. Clothes fit for wood working.
  4. Pencils and measuring tape (if you have any).

List of furniture projects

- Enzomann
- FT Bench
- Bench Shelf
- Ruhstein
- The popsicle bench