Claudia Martinelli

Tre di Bastoni and Knot Knees are two seating designs born from an exploration of solid wood as both structural material and expressive medium. Tre di Bastoni is a three-legged high stool offering two sitting option: dynamic and static. One of the legs functions as a pendulum, allowing a rhythmic oscillation when sitting astride the semi-cylindrical seat; when placed on the floor, the seat stabilizes. The project explores the relationship between balance, posture, and concentration through an essential structure made entirely of solid wood. Knot Knees emerges as a more structural evolution of the same research. At the core of the project are three solid maple legs, each defined by a central spherical deformation that acts as a structural node: it supports the seat and extends upward to connect with the backrest. The leather seat rests on these “knotted knees”, and it is the weight of the body that secures the final position of the chair. Stability is achieved through form and interlocking connections, reducing mechanical fasteners to a minimum.