All Photos By Gail

Joris Laarman (b. 1979) is a contemporary Dutch designer known for his innovative and futuristic furniture designs. One of his most famous creations is the Bone Chair, which gained considerable attention in the design world.

The Bone Chair was designed in 2006 as part of Laarman’s Bone Furniture collection. What makes this chair truly unique is its unconventional fabrication process, which combines advanced digital design techniques with cutting-edge 3D printing technology.

Instead of using traditional methods to construct the chair, Laarman employed a process known as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). In SLS, a laser is used to fuse together layers of powdered material, typically plastic or metal, to build up a three-dimensional object. In the case of the Bone Chair, the material used was powdered polyamide (a type of nylon).

The design of the Bone Chair was inspired by natural forms, specifically the internal structure of bones. Laarman used algorithms to create a lattice-like pattern that mimics the intricate, organic arrangement found in bone tissue. This resulted in a chair that is not only visually striking but also structurally efficient and lightweight.

The Bone Chair exemplifies the possibilities of marrying art, design, and technology, pushing the boundaries of what is traditionally achievable in furniture making. It challenges the notion of conventional manufacturing processes and explores the potential of 3D printing as a viable method for creating functional and aesthetically pleasing furniture pieces.

Photographed at R & Company in Manhattan