Bobbing g
Floating n
Except i
you learn control y
it takes a sec but it is natural l
when you get it f
vestibular ecstacy
“Float Chair,” Andrew Riiska
The Float Chair fits perfectly into the Acrobat’s “Ideal Home” giving the occupants room to counter the movement of the house as they spread through out rooms effecting the houses. It is a ridiculous idea but by bringing it to fruition I realized that like my evolving perception of, “Invisible Cities” by Italo Calvino, it became a serious chair to me.
Float Chair 2021
To use it you sit by the triangle and slide your butt back towards the short end until the beams lift up. Don’t worry it is hand planed smooth where you sit so no splinters. It is fun to go up and down but for me it is most meditative finding the balance point, as expertly demonstrated by designer Christina Daniels(second photo) and relaxing with slow breaths. I feel like I am floating on the wind or resting on the bow of a tree.
In 2022 The Cranbrook 3D Department participated in Wanted Design, part of New York’s City’s ICFF. Here is some text from my entry and a link if you want to keep reading and see a video too.
Andrew Riiska 3D 2022 - I am interested in studying the acute awareness of the body. I wanted to design a chair about our senses. Specifically, our sense of balance. The design is simple. It is a lever made with a heavy wooden beam. The sitter becomes a counterweight. The precise position of the body brings balance. The sensation is like floating and over time in can become very meditative. Keep Reading at Wanted Design
Winthrop Beach
This also inspired the idea for my “Float Chair.” Thank you for reading
It was a sunny day. Cold in the middle of the winter but I was warm in my winter coat. I walked the whole Winthrop beach that morning. There was a storm the night before and a lot of stuff washed up. In the rocks 20 feet from the surf was 25’ long board made of extremely hard tropical wood. It was a beautiful piece. The water brought it here. I managed to lift the end up over the rock and adjust it so when I sat or stood on the back it was level. Well I stood for hours raising and lowering about 4’ in the air thanks to the rock and the very long heavy lever. The goal was to do a full swing. All the way up and all the way down without touching the ground at all. It was very peaceful. Well then I sat down and just balanced. Bouncing some but mostly just meditating as the waves broke noticing that everything is constant nothing ever changes but if you relax you can still find places to fly. I spent all afternoon there floating in the cold air next to the breaking waves.