about
This project focused on designing and building a seating construct for a Virginia Tech residence hall lounge. Many challenges presented themselves; designing for multiple stakeholders, understanding green woodworking, and considering human factors.
goal
We aimed to create a chair that was durable, comfortable, and appropriate for a shared space, while responding thoughtfully to the constraints and opportunities of working with freshly cut wood.
outcome
The Stylo chair is a full-scale green wood chair that balances structure, ergonomics, and material expression. The design reflects a deep engagement with joinery, form, and the natural behavior of the wood, resulting in a piece that is both functional and rooted in its material origins.
STYLO
Green Wood Chair
Green Wood Chair
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6 Week Project
Spring 2025
Spring 2025
Virginia Tech School of Design
Team members: Jacob Camarata and Chapin Henry
ideation.
sketching
As sketches progressed, certain concepts began to take shape and guide our direction. Refining the joint where three pieces of wood intersect became an early turning point in the project. Each iteration tested a different approach to balancing strength, ease of construction, and visual clarity. As we sketched, certain solutions began to resolve structural challenges while simplifying the overall form. These decisions not only strengthened the joint itself but also shaped the direction of the entire chair, establishing rules for proportion, alignment, and the way parts relate to each other.
building.
construction
Each piece of the chair was carved from green wood sourced directly from campus logs. Instead of relying on CNC tools, we shaped and joined every part in the woodshop to bring the design to life. Working this way revealed how the wood wanted to move and respond, forcing us to adapt and refine our approach as we went. The process was slow but rewarding, bridging design intent with craftsmanship and giving the final chair a sense of honesty that only comes from hands-on making.
keyshot renders.
thank you.
