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The Palenque Chair is an inspiration from the Pakal's Lid
found in the Temple of Inscriptions in Chiapas, Mexico. It
includes technical and metaphorical considerations found in
the analysis of King Pakal's depiction toward his ascension
as a Mayan God.
From the Lid, we can extract technical data on how Pakal
sits to design a chair that meets the requirements of a modern
easy chair. The drawing at the top establishes guidelines
that are primarily intended for relaxation and comfort - qualities
which are highly personal. Nevertheless, the drawing offers
some basic dimensions for use in making preliminary design
assumptions.
The following design suggestions were taken in considerations
for the analysis: (1) the angle formed by thighs and trunk
should not be less than 105 degrees. Angles significantly
less than this will cause discomfort; (2) design should allow
the user to adjust lumbar posture; (3) the front edge of the
seat should be rounded to prevent irritation; (4) the seat
surface should tilt backwards. Too severe an angle, however,
may cause a person difficulty in getting up from the chair,
particularly for elderly people; (5) a seat angle of about
15 degrees should be adequate; (6) if the angle formed by
the backrest with the vertical exceeds 30 degrees, provisions
for a headrest will be required in the form of a separate
design element or extension of the backrest itself; (7) armrests
should be designed horizontally or at the same angle as the
seat surface with certain considerations of elbow support.
 The
geometrical forms used in the design provide an allegory for
universal harmony and infinite awareness. The vertical and
horizontal components have been carefully eliminated to emphasize
the overwhelming idea of ascension as in the Pakal's Lid and
avoid gravity awareness in space. The design proposition includes
shape symbols that are familiar in the Mayan culture by association
of general ideas.
For manufacturing companies interested in constructing the
Palenque Chair, please contact me through email
or write to neutra.org
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