Danish Bench

Duration

5.5 Weeks

Dates

Fall 2024

The Danish Bench blends precise joinery, and durable materials. Built with traditional mortise-and-tenon and domino joints-no visible metal-the bench offers clean lines and lasting strength.

Skills: Ergonomic Research, CMF Design, Form Development

Furniture Groups

Utilizes decorative carvings and moldings while combining with rich woods with deep color: Walnut, Mahogany, and Cherry. These are great in formal spaces including dining rooms or heirloom pieces.

Traditional

Modern

Uses straight lines and simple geometry to emphasize focus on materiality. These include wood, metal, and glass and are often seen in Bauhaus and Mid-Century modern homes.

Emphasis on visible grain and natural imperfections. Uses simple joinery and is often seen in Cabins or Farmhouse inspired Interiors.

Rustic

So I asked myself, how do I create a piece that fits in all these places?

Inspiration

Taking look at traditional woven patterns, I wanted to combine the modern aesthetic of large post beam structures with a timeless traditional design.

Close-up view of woven rope patterns on a wooden chair with a dark background.
View of a wooden ceiling with skylights and a black metal rod hanging from it.
Ceiling with wooden beams and geometric design

Ideation

With the limited parameters that come with simple furniture, I drew inspiration from negative space designs. Understanding that with a simple shape, the character comes within the small details.

CAD Modeling

Creating a template and design to follow, the CAD model allows for a full-scale vision to be brought to life before final production.

Empty dark brown wooden bed frame without mattress on a plain white background.
A small wooden chair frame on a plain white background
A small, dark wooden table with a simple, open-frame design without any surface or top.
Technical drawing of a bed with various views including top, front, side, and isometric, featuring a rectangular frame with four legs and a curved headboard.

Creating a simple joint and small-scale model created the base to learn how the form would come together. The hard part? Create a strong enough joint in a dowel rod to hold the weight of a person.

Prototyping

Unfinished wooden furniture frame in a workshop, with a cross-legged corner joint, on a grey tiled floor.
A small wooden model of a table on a workbench in a woodworking shop.
Unassembled wooden furniture piece with a leg and support beam on a gray tiled floor.

Final Preparation

It all began with a plan and a piece of paper.

A woodworking setup with a hand pushing a piece of wood through a machine, on a worktable with wood shavings and dust, in a workshop or factory environment.
A woodworking workshop with a partially assembled wooden piece clamped on a worktable, surrounded by tools, wood pieces, and blueprints.
A young man working in a woodworking shop using a lathe machine, wearing safety glasses and headphones, focused on shaping a piece of wood.
Two wooden tools resting on a wooden workbench in a workshop, with a concrete floor visible in the background.
A woodworking workbench with wood planks, a technical drawing, and tools, possibly in a workshop.
Woodworking workshop with curved wooden pieces supported on wood blocks, workshop equipment and tools in the background.

Finishing and weave preparation

A woodworking plane resting on a piece of wood while shavings and dust surround it on a wooden workbench.
A person is sitting on a bench and sanding a small wooden chair frame with a hand sander, wearing gloves, glasses, and casual clothes in an indoor workshop.
A person working on a plans or blueprint at a woodworking or design studio, with tools such as a ruler and a square nearby, and pipes and industrial equipment in the background.
Unassembled wooden bed frame in a woodworking or furniture shop with various wood pieces and sketches in the background.

In order to complete the weave, finish had to be applied and partially removed before weaving. Nails needed to be placed and partially offset to be conducive to the curvature of the design.

Close-up of a woodworking clamp securing a piece of wood with angled nails to a workbench in a workshop.
Close-up of a woodworking project with a Makita cordless drill resting on a partially assembled wooden piece in a workshop.

Weaving

Close-up of a wooden weaving loom with black yarns wrapped around the top bar in a weaving process.
Close-up of a black woven bench with wooden legs in a classroom or workshop setting.
Close-up of a woven black rope tied underneath a wooden table with metal nails.

Material
Walnut and Black Paper Cord

Time
10 hours

Hand holding black ropes on a wooden frame structure.
Close-up of a wooden railing with black ropes wrapped around a section, held in place by metal fasteners.
Close-up of a hand holding a black woven rope hanging from a wooden rod with black ropes tied around it, and multiple black ropes hanging down.
A wooden bench with a woven black seat, placed on a plastic sheet in a workshop or furniture store.
  • Close-up of a woven black and gray chair with a wooden armrest.

  • Wooden bench with black woven seat on a white backdrop with shadow.

  • Close-up of a modern chair with a wooden frame and a woven, textured black fabric seat.

  • A close-up of a wooden stool with a woven black seat against a white wall.

  • A wooden chair with a black woven seat casting a dotted shadow on a white surface, against a plain background.

  • "Less weight, More Power, MIRKA sets the standard."

    Mirka Sander

  • "A sponsored project by CROWN equipment corporation."

    CROWN ERV

  • "Every curve speaks craftsmanship. Every grain holds a memory. This is where my first piece of furniture began."

    Danish Bench