Make it Simple, Add Magnets
Perhaps it’s because this author recently had to put all of his furniture in storage while his future home is being renovated–whatever the reason, I’ve become very fond of furniture that’s easy to disassemble and store. First it was the IN A BOX collection by TRUE. Today, it’s Benjamin Vermeulen’s MAG (Magnetic Assisted Geometry) collection. Rather than relying on screws or traditional joinery, the MAG’s flat-packing furniture comes together via (you guessed it) high power magnets.
Vermeulen correctly asserts that flat-packing furniture is more economical and eco-friendly than traditional furniture, but most of it is tough to assemble and suffers from crappy materials and construction (not naming any names of who he might be referring to). MAG, on the other hand, is made entirely of solid wood and steel. Almost all of the furniture’s parts are held in place by magnets (we imagine they’re the extremely powerful, rare earth variety); additional support is added with stanchion fittings at critical stress points. MAG requires no tools and assembles in minutes. This type of construction is not only convenient, but it makes all of the furniture customizable and easily repaired.
The furniture’s convenience would be far less appealing if it was ugly. But it is not. Vermeulen’s simple and light designs match the unfussy nature of its construction. Vermeulen is working on getting the chair produced for Q1 2014 with the rest of the collection following shortly thereafter. Shipping worldwide will be a breeze because of its flat-packing design, he reports. No pricing information just yet. We’ll keep you posted.
Via Dezeen