Core77

"LEAN" by William Lee & et al. collaborative

By Ray Hu - June 3, 2011

in Furniture Design

Anyone who has recently moved to New York has probably found themselves face to face with a housing crisis, so to speak, of a very personal sort: the premium on space makes for a very distinct kind of culture shock.

Well, industrial designer William Lee—a recent transplant from San Francisco—decided to do something about it: he's partnered with Manu Garza of architecture and design studio et al. collaborative to "challenge the limitations of urban space."

"LEAN" is the first product of their collaboration. It's a simple, geometric shape that functions as a chair (when placed against a corner) or a coffee table when resting on the ground.

The dual-function piece is characterized by its origami-like form, something like a pyramid that's been cut in half, with one side turned inside out... if that makes sense.

I've seen leaning chairs before—and frankly "LEAN" looks like something I could make with a bit of plywood and spare time—but I'm kind of digging the product photography. Clearly, anyone who might boast such a palatial abode would probably forgo the uncompromising angles of "LEAN."

Alternately, it's a different take on minimalism from et al's previously seen "fLume" lamp.

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robert badescu

13 years ago

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visually powerful, but i don't like to sit in the corner
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Kal C

13 years ago

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Great photography, unviable design.
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Noah B

13 years ago

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I agree with the other commenters. This item can be classified as a shape study, or perhaps a concept piece.
However, I feel that it's dedication to elegant simplicity is betrayed by it's complete uselessness in the real world. If this thing was as functional as it was simple, it would be an instant classic. Not so.
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casual-character.blogspot.com

13 years ago

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Wow, a lame and impractical coffee table, and a lame and impractical chair! The novelty of "look, it's two things in one!" might be interesting to the uninitiated but I thought designers with any sort of education or experience would not want to be bothered by dual-functionality designs that don't do either task well. I know you have to continuously come up with stuff to post here, but come on Core77!
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Chuck

13 years ago

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Few things: As a chair, what would that sharp corner do to he floor? As a table, what would that sharp corner do to my shin? And speaking of corners, who wants to sit in one?
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