AGAINST THE GRAIN: BENCH
Inspired by Irish vernacular furniture that possess traditional aspects of techniques and joineries. This bench is referenced to an Irish hedge chair and the Windsor chair, with principles of simplicity that are designed in a contemporary manner. It is important to understand the roots of craftmanship and the art that follows through the process of handmaking; as this allows the maker and designer to interact with the material in ways that you can appreciate the grain of the timber as well as each step.
The legs are splayed at angle of 85 degrees. This allows stability and durability for sitting with the support of the bars attached perpendicular; seen in majority of traditional furniture.
In terms of vernacular and traditional, there are no modern joineries used throughout the structure; instead traditional joinery is used to secure all components into place. The mortise and tenon joinery is used in every aspect of the bench, and the legs are what makes this piece distinctively traditional. Wooden wedges are used as screws to secure each legs as they splay outwards and tighten. They are exposed for detailing, and for vernacular reasons they can be replaced over time with new wedges and new legs.
