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Foldable ChairProvidence, RI · 2025

Fold—
able.

A flat pattern, folded into a chair.

First-year design exercise — translate a flat pattern into a physical object. Recycled wood, paracord and a single steel rod pin. It folds. It opens. It holds a person.

In conversation with Misha Kahn's All Tied Up Chair.

The Foldable Chair, open, photographed against a soft cream backdrop
Open position
Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery · Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery · Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery · Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery · Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery · Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery · Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery · Foldable Chair · A pattern made physical · No. 003 · Studio Ellery ·
Hand opening the chair's folding mechanism
The hinge
The chair folded flat
Folded flat
Spec sheet
Material
Baltic birch ply, 18mm
Fasteners
Recycled steel rod pin, paracord
Finish
Raw, hand-sanded
Folded depth
62 mm
Edition
1 of 1 — student prototype
Year
2025
Process

From a drawing to a chair that actually works.

  1. I
    Step
    Pattern

    Started with a looping ink drawing. Chose curves that felt like they wanted to be furniture.

  2. II
    Step
    Translation

    Flattened the pattern into nestable shapes — every part traceable back to the original drawing.

  3. III
    Step
    Cut & joint

    Band-sawn recycled wood, dry-fit a dozen times. The hinge is a single steel rod pin.

  4. IV
    Step
    Fold

    Collapses to 62 mm. Opens with a satisfying click.