Projecto em Aberto (Open Project)
Projecto em Aberto (Open Project) grows from the strong will and need of re-think the present material culture, of questioning how we interact with objects, what we think about them and the consequences of our actions and interventions. United by the will of strengthen the knowledge of the portuguese traditions, bringing them into the contemporary memory, this is not just a guide for the construction of a mere object, but a vehicle of divulgation of material culture.
Projecto em Aberto (Open Project) grows from the strong will and need of re-think the present material culture, of questioning how we interact with objects, what we think about them and the consequences of our actions and interventions. United by the will of strengthen the knowledge of the portuguese traditions, bringing them into the contemporary memory, this is not just a guide for the construction of a mere object, but a vehicle of divulgation of material culture.
The project intends to establish itself as a serial presence, and this is therefore the first number of future issues, about new portuguese objects and knowledge.
Projecto em Aberto (Open Project) - Number I, focus its attention towards the traditional stool from Alentejo (a region from the south of Portugal).
Trough a re-interpretation of this traditional stool, in one sheet, it is offered to you the opportunity to learn the stuffing technic, with the fidelity and the veracity of the work of craftsman that still resists. In this edition you will find all the instructions needed for constructing and stuffing your new traditional stool from Alentejo. Feel excited to know a part of our material culture, and re-interpret this, that will be an object made to you, by you.
In order to share the different results obtained by each user of this edition, it's asked for you to send one or several photos of your new stool, constructed by you, to the e-mail - projectoemaberto@gmail.com.
All images will be posted in the Gallery, so that we can share the diversity of the results possible trough one same initial project.
Participate and share the results!
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| 3. Projecto em Aberto Stool |
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| 1. Projecto em Aberto Stool |
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| 2. Projecto em Aberto Stool |
Traditional Stool from Alentejo
Each traditional chair and stool from Alentejo, tipically stuffed with natural plants, are different from each other, due to the several technics used to compose the seat and back. Contrary to the contemporary spirit of mass, each craftsman, makes up a different and unique object, due to the teaching they had - it vary from geographical area and its corresponding resources and raw materials.
Each traditional chair and stool from Alentejo, tipically stuffed with natural plants, are different from each other, due to the several technics used to compose the seat and back. Contrary to the contemporary spirit of mass, each craftsman, makes up a different and unique object, due to the teaching they had - it vary from geographical area and its corresponding resources and raw materials.
There are a lot of typologies of stools and chairs that are part of this Alentejo furniture category, related with the place and function they develop - near the fireplace in the Winter or at the doorsteps in the Summer; at the table or in aid of any domestic task. So, there are the higher chairs, the lower (or sewing) ones, the infant, the armchairs and the benches.
The used material for the chair/stool construction is wood - the most used is oleander (but also, poplar, olive tree, oak or even pine). The joists reflect the rudeness of the raw materials used. They are directly cutted from trees, according to what is needed - the straight ones for the legs of the chair and the curved ones for the back (their section is usually square or rectangular or even round), united by holes and fittings.
After assembling the structure is time to start stuffing - first the back and then the seat.
For the stuffing it is used "buinho" - a natural plant that grows near the rivers and is collected from May till the end of June, so that it can then be ready to use during all year. As an alternative, are also used plants like sedge, "tabúa" and sisal rope. After being collected, "buinho" must be dried in the shade, so that it doesn't lose its natural colour, and than later can be cracked and prepared for the stuffing. By using this material, we get a lighter chair/stool with a flexible and confortable seat.
The last phase is the eventual ornamentation. The first types of this kind of furniture mantained the natural colours of the raw materials, and than, just untill de XVIII century appears the "painted chair". Later, from the XIX century till now, appears a floral ornamentation.
An experient craftsman will take about one or two days to produce one chair and about three to make an armchair, due to it's bigger dimensions.
This was tipically a craft made by men, even though some women made the stuffing of the chairs and stools.
"The sucess of this furniture is due, in first place, to it's quality and strenght, to the geometric rigor, to the ergonomic quality and, most recently, to it's bright colours and expressive drawings, that make them stand out from the other nacional productions.
These alternative projects of the big mass production, have a special characteristic: the fact that in a world of hiperartificiality they respect, in general the natural characteristics of the materials that they are made of. This makes them an important part of the inhabited space." (1)
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3. Traditional Chair from Alentejo
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1. Traditional Chair from Alentejo
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2. Traditional Chair from Alentejo
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4. Traditional Stool from Alentejo
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5. Traditional Chair from Alentejo (stuffing detail)
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Construction and Stuffing Instructions
Probably you already know these images, even though they appear somewhat different from those presented here. The original series, obtained by screen printing process (as symbolic way of patenting - see the serial number of your copy) consists of a vibrant blue, alluding to the painted bars of the typical houses of Alentejo. They look very much rudimentary - characteristic of this handmade technique of reproduction, and also of Projecto em Aberto (Open Project) itself.
Probably you already know these images, even though they appear somewhat different from those presented here. The original series, obtained by screen printing process (as symbolic way of patenting - see the serial number of your copy) consists of a vibrant blue, alluding to the painted bars of the typical houses of Alentejo. They look very much rudimentary - characteristic of this handmade technique of reproduction, and also of Projecto em Aberto (Open Project) itself.
This instructions are all the information you need to build the structure of the proposed stool, as well as its stuffing and related materials and tools needed.
Click in each image, to see them in full resolution. Participate, and send your photos so that they can be posted in the Gallery.
A Vida Portuguesa - Rua Anchieta, nº 11, Lisbon
Municipal Library Camões - Rua da Junqueira, nº 295 / 7, Lisbon
Casa do Alentejo - Rua Portas de Santo Antão, nº 58, Lisbon
Fabrica Features Lisbon - Rua Garrett, nº 83 / 4th floor, Lisbon
Museum of Popular Art - Avenida de Brasília, Lisbon
UITI - International Senior University - Rua das Flores, nº 85 / 1st floor, Lisbon
Municipal Library of Évora - Largo Conde de Vila Flor, Évora
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| 1. Instructions - Cover and Back |
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| 2. Instructions - What is Projecto em Aberto (Open Project)? |
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| 3. Instructions - Construction and Stuffing |
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4. Instructions - Cover and Back, Original Serie in Screen Printing Process |
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5. Instructions - What is Project em Aberto (Open Project)?, Original Serie in Screen Printing Process |
7. Instructions -Original Serie in Screen Printing Process | ||
Construction and Stuffing Suggestions
Projecto em Aberto (Open Project) is open to everyone interested, and all new possible solutions are very much welcome! Here are presented some proposals for the execution of this stool. Varying the materials and technics used, it's possible to accomplish different results and different objects, that rely on the same project.
Inspire yourself and try to make this project your own!
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Gallery
We look forward to get to know your own project, your new stool!
We look forward to get to know your own project, your new stool!
Send one (or several) photo(s) so that, it could also be a part of the Gallery.
1. Mariana Fernandes, Sculptress - October 12, 2011
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| 1. Drawings and studies of Projecto em Aberto |
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2. João Piteira e Catarina de Castro Cid, Sculptor/Theater technician and Sculptress - October 16, 2011
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1. Wood stool (pine) and stuffing with sisal rope (still under construction!) |
3. Ângela Geraldes, Student of Product Design - November 12, 2011
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| 1. Stool in wicker - photos of the construction Tecnic: Basketry (from Serra da Estrela) |
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2. Stool in wicker - photos of the construction
Tecnic: Basketry (from Serra da Estrela)
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3. Stool in wicker - photos of the construction
Tecnic: Basketry (from Serra da Estrela)
 
5. Stool in wicker / Technic; Basketry (da Serra da Estrela)
5. Stool in wicker / Technic; Basketry (da Serra da Estrela)
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4. Sara Prudêncio, Product Designer - December 23, 2011
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| 1. Wood stool (pine) and stuffing with sisal rope |
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2. Wood stool (pine) and stuffing with sisal rope
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| 3. Wood stool (pine) and stuffing with sisal rope |
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| 4. Sisal rope stuffing detail |
Contacts
projectoemaberto@gmail.com
projectoemaberto@gmail.com
Feel free to contact for any question, comment or suggestion!
And now, also on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002950650721
And on Issuu!
www.issuu.com/projectoemaberto
References:
- (1) PARRA, Paulo - O Mundo Alentejano - Alentejo: uma das culturas europeias mais antigas. 1ª ed. Lisboa : Artes da Casa, 2011.
- Produtos Artesanais : Cadeiras - com loendro e buinho da ribeira se faz uma cadeira [em linha]. Moura, - 2011. [Consult. 2 Setembro 2011]. Disponível em : <http://www.adcmoura.pt/html/produtos arte.htm>.
- Museu da Luz, Exposições Rotativas - Dar Voz aos Objectos : A Cadeira [em linha]. Aldeia da Luz, - 2011. [Consult, 2 Setembro 2011]. Disponível em : <http://www.museudaluz.org.pt/documentos/1268227783M8IOG6zk8lm30OC7.pdf>.
And now, also on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002950650721
And on Issuu!
www.issuu.com/projectoemaberto
References:
- (1) PARRA, Paulo - O Mundo Alentejano - Alentejo: uma das culturas europeias mais antigas. 1ª ed. Lisboa : Artes da Casa, 2011.
- Produtos Artesanais : Cadeiras - com loendro e buinho da ribeira se faz uma cadeira [em linha]. Moura, - 2011. [Consult. 2 Setembro 2011]. Disponível em : <http://www.adcmoura.pt/html/produtos arte.htm>.
- Museu da Luz, Exposições Rotativas - Dar Voz aos Objectos : A Cadeira [em linha]. Aldeia da Luz, - 2011. [Consult, 2 Setembro 2011]. Disponível em : <http://www.museudaluz.org.pt/documentos/1268227783M8IOG6zk8lm30OC7.pdf>.
