hacin.typepad.com > Christine Rankin at RISD

One of our designers, Christine Rankin, is currently studying interior architecture in the graduate program at the Rhode Island School of Design. These photos show the one of her projects, a design for a seat.

[from Christine]
"While brainstorming ideas for this assignment, I experimented with casting rubber and was drawn to its weight, grip and texture. I wanted to take advantage of these properties by casting a rubber floor mat/seat that rests on a block to adjust its angle of incline. Having had little experience building anything or working with shop tools/equipment, this project was very much about the process of seeing my design through."

mdf form and vent holes
vacuum forming!
styrene mold
setup for rubber casting
leveling mold before pouring
mixing parts liquid rubber parts A and B
close up on rubber being poured
8 gallons of rubber in liquid state
rubber is coated in talc powder to prevent it from attracting dust
burnt edges are cleaned with a wet rag
pieces are thread onto steel rods
close-up view of rubber
views of final seat
back rest
views of final seat