BUTTOnBACK

Designed and built as a collaboration between Aileen De La Ree Valenica and Nush Wadia, the ButtonBack Chair is an exploration in materiality, form, and ergonomics.

PROJECT BRIEF

Over the course of a few weeks, we gave ourselves the task of developing a chair that embodied each of us equally, and this led to the creation of ButtonBack. The ButtonBack Chair is an exploration of materiality, form, and ergonomics. Crafted from eight-quarter Cherry, it features an asymmetric form, undulating surfaces, a sole armrest, and a concave seat and back. The goal of the design was to challenge conventional ideas of aesthetics and comfort.

Construction Details

The structure relies on two stretchers, which, together with the front panel, side leg, and back leg, make up the chair’s frame. The primary stretcher runs between the front panel and back leg, and the secondary ties the armrest to the primary stretcher.

The back and armrest are connected to the frame with dowels, while the seat is dry-fastened to the stretchers and front panel.

Build + Ergonomics

To test the form and ergonomics, we created a full-scale mock-up. This part of the process allowed us to refine both the overall composition and posture until they aligned with our aesthetic and comfort goals. To achieve the final level of comfort, we realized that the seat and back needed to be dished to better conform to the body's contours. The backrest was carved using a CNC machine, ensuring a precise profile that comfortably supports the back while integrating the seat's defining ornamental motif. In keeping with the handcrafted nature of the chair, the seat was manually dished using an angle grinder for a more organic, tactile finish.

Maple ornaments

The chair gets its name from the four Maple ornaments added to the back, breaking the visual monotony of the cherry wood. Along with the armrest, these are the only two elements made from maple, providing a contrast to the warmth and visual weight of the cherry, introducing lighter accents.