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Oskar Zieta's Ultraleggera is an inflated metal chair that weighs less than two kilograms
Oskar Zieta of Zieta Studio has engineered the Ultraleggera chair, a revolutionary piece of furniture that challenges conventional notions of strength and lightness. This ultra-light chair is a modern response to Italian architect Gio Ponti's iconic 1957 Superleggera chair, which stripped a traditional Ligurian design down to its bare essentials using ash wood. Zieta's Ultraleggera, made entirely of aluminum, weighs a mere 1.66 kilograms, surpassing Ponti's wooden chair by a small margin, yet falling a kilogram short of the world's lightest chair, Massimiliano Della Monaca's Estrema.
The innovative manufacturing process behind the Ultraleggera chair is Zieta Studio's patented FiDU technology. This method involves laser-cutting a two-dimensional outline from two aluminum sheets, which are then welded together. Compressed air is subsequently used to inflate these welded sheets, creating a three-dimensional, stable bionic structure. This inflation process results in a remarkably durable design despite its minimal weight. Zieta explains that every radius and perforation of the Ultraleggera chair was meticulously optimized over several years for both lightness and strength, undergoing extensive virtual simulations and real-world strength tests.
The FiDU technology, previously utilized by Zieta for projects such as a 3D typeface and the Plopp stool for Hay, allows for a unique approach to material deformation. Instead of forcing the metal into a rigid mold, the process embraces the material's natural 'freedom of deformation,' resulting in unique structures with high strength coefficients. The slight undulations on the material surface contribute significantly to the chair's overall stability and durability. Zieta emphasizes that this method not only creates visually distinct products but also conserves energy and material compared to traditional manufacturing techniques.
Beyond its innovative production, the Ultraleggera chair champions sustainability. As a mono-material product, it is crafted entirely from aluminum, a fully recyclable material. This design choice ensures that at the end of its lifecycle, the chair can be easily melted down and repurposed, contributing to a circular economy. The chair's exceptional design and sustainable principles were recognized with the top prize in the product category at the Materialica Design and Technology Awards earlier this year.
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