(Im)material connections

Yes! Got it! That’s precisely what I was looking for.

These stools represent that euphoric feeling. Eureka! You can position them into one another, next to one another, with one another. Seen in a theatrical light, you fleetingly follow in Archimedes’ footsteps. You seek and find. Puzzling the stools together can yield surprising results. Eureka plays with the ambiguity of (im)material connections: from constructive to communicative.

Eureka is a design by Nonah Wouters. The design speaks for itself: to see is to understand, and you learn by doing. You set to work interactively with the stools. A link is created between the piece and the user.

The design may appear basic, but its construction is the epitome of traditional craftsmanship. The stools are assembled with mortise and tenon joints, and joined together with dovetail joints. You can combine them in every direction: side by side, or perpendicular to one another to create an endless bench. A special corner element makes all kinds of connections possible. How do you want to sit, use the space? Upon closer inspection, you can also stack the stools to create a bedside table and bookcase. Eureka!

The artisanal approach has a special effect in several areas. Each stool is crafted from a single plank of wood, cut at an angle. This minimises wood waste. So the woodgrain flows uninterrupted, across all connections. If you put several stools in a row, then the natural design will run through ‘endlessly’. Craftsmanship, sustainability and aesthetics go hand in hand.

Hence the choice of pine with its expressive character, its flame-like patterns, knots and colour gradations. Over time, you see the wood becoming more vibrant. Plus, pine is durable and affordable. Later, Nonah discovered Fraké in a hardware store: an exotic wood from West Africa. The natural design consists of woodgrain ranging from straight to undulating. The Fraké reveals occasional pockets of resin. Should these natural imperfections be denigrated as minor flaws? On the contrary, they enhance its decorative character, the tactile sensation, the connection to the stool! Seeing is feeling and DOING.