Optique

Bench for Albert Potgieter Designs

The Optique bench was designed to be a functional art piece. The focus of this design lies in its visual aspect, hence the name, Optique. Being designed in Africa, it carries some of the properties of nature and wildness. It captures the attention as it gives the impression of movement and being alive. The Optique Bench is made out of many separate pieces of solid wood which gets cut, sanded, prepared, oiled and then glued together and like a puzzle gets built up into a solid furniture piece.

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Download Press Kit № 129032 Bench for Albert Potgieter Designs by Albert Potgieter to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.

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Optique by Albert Potgieter

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Bench by Albert Potgieter

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Albert Potgieter Optique

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Albert Potgieter Bench

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Albert Potgieter Designer Portrait Photo

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Albert Potgieter DesignsBrand Logo

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Albert Potgieter Interview

Press Access: An insightful interview with Albert Potgieter, estimated at 567 words, is now available for use in your stories free of charge. Download access provided. Access Albert Potgieter Interview Now.

Optique Bench Press Releases

Availability alert: Press releases for Optique in languages including English.

Optique Bench Translations

Bringing Optique closer to you with translations in multiple languages: Bank AF, Stol SQ, አግዳሚ ወንበር AM, المقعد AR, Նստարան HY, Dəzgah AZ, Bankua EU, Лаўка BE, বেঞ্চ BN, Klupa BS, Пейка BG, Bench MY, Banc CA, Ang Bangko CEB, Benchi NY, 長凳 ZY, 长凳 ZH, Bancu CO, Klupa HR, Lavice CS, Bænk DA, Bank NL, Benko EO, Pink ET, Penkki FI, Banc FR, Being GD, Banco GL, სკამი KA, Bank DE, Ο Πάγκος EL, બેન્ચ GU, Ban HT, Benci HA, Noho HAW, ספסל HE, बेंच HI, Lub Rooj Ntev Zaum HMN, Pad HU, Bekk IS, Bench IG, Bangku ID, Binse GA, Panca IT, ベンチ JA, Bangku JV, ಬೆಂಚ್ KN, Орындық KK, កៅអី KM, Intebe RW, 벤치 KO, Benç KU, Отургуч KY, Bench LO, Scamnum LA, Sols LV, Suoliukas LT, Bänk LB, Клупа MK, Dabilio MG, Bangku MS, ബെഞ്ച് ML, Bank MT, Te Pae MI, बेंच MR, Вандан MN, बेन्च NE, Benk NO, ବେଞ୍ଚ OR, بنچ PS, نیمکت FA, Ławka PL, Banco PT, ਬੈਂਚ PA, Banca RO, Скамья RU, Nofoa SM, Клупа SR, Bhenji SN, بينچ SD, බංකුව SI, Lavica SK, Klop SL, Kursiga SO, Benche ST, Banco ES, Bangku SU, Benchi SW, Bänk SV, Ang Bangko TL, Скамейка TG, பெஞ்ச் TA, Эскәмия TT, బెంచ్ TE, ม้านั่ง TH, Tezgah TR, Oturgyç TK, Лавка UK, بینچ UR, ئورۇندۇق UG, Skameyka UZ, Băng Ghế VI, Mainc CY, Bank FY, Ibhentshi XH, באַנק YI, Ibujoko YO, Ibhentshi ZU, Bench EN.

Optique Bench Media Articles

For immediate use: Optique articles, available in languages such as Portuguese, Indonesian, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic (Standard), Dutch, Korean, Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), English, Italian, German, French and Spanish, to enrich your content.

Unique Properties

The Optique bench was designed to be a functional art piece. To be a unique furniture piece in the house, but that also gives an atmosphere to the room it’s in. The uniqueness of this design lies in its visual aspect, hence the name, Optique. It captures the attention as it gives the impression of movement and being alive. Being designed in Africa it also carries the properties of nature and wildness with it, giving it a very special, unique look. The core of the design is to attract, to gather around and to enhance the space it fills.

Tags

bench, interior, handmade, seating, home, art, living room, design

Production Technology

The Optique Bench came to be in a very unique way. Only an idea or part was designed on paper at first, when Albert jumped into the building process. This turned the building and designing process into one and as a result, caused the bench to form organically into the piece it is today. The Optique Bench is all handmade in solid hardwood. Piece by piece it’s cut, set in the right position, glued together and slowly it is built up into bigger and bigger pieces. Only wood and glue is used in the production of the Optique Bench while a tiny bolt is used in the bottom of the leg to give a bit of detail.

Design Challenge

The hardest part of this design was to make the Optique Bench strong enough so that it can be moved around etc. Since there are so many joints, this can cause a problem in durability. The first prototype was made by using screws at every joint, but this causes the wood to split in some places and it is actually not as strong as wood glue. In the second bench, no screws were used, only wood glue. The joints were strong to use and sit on, but moving the bench around too much caused some of the joints to split open slightly. A solution was found by strengthening every joint with a wooden dowel or domino, causing the bench now to be strong for use and for transport. The other creative challenge was getting the wood pieces in the legs in exactly the right angle so that when you put the joints together it doesn’t split open in the back of the joint or has a gap in the front of the joints. This was overcome after a few trials and making a mold, where every piece of wood, that is used in the legs, gets put into the mold one by one and put through the planer before being glued. Another creative challenge was the finishing phase. As a result of using the individual pieces of wood and the gaps between each piece, it is difficult to sand and oil everywhere and inevitably adds an enormous amount of time. This can cause inconsistencies in the aesthetics of the Bench if not done properly. However, this is overcome by sanding and oiling every individual piece before gluing, excluding the portions that will be glued together.

Project Duration

The designing process started in December 2018 on the Family game farm in South Africa, and the production was finalized in February 2019 in Rotterdam, Netherlands

Operation Flow

The Optique Bench is considered functional art- it has the ability to create an atmosphere of comfort and community, while it also has the ability to initiate conversation as only art can while you are admiring the visual aspects of the design. It was designed to be visually attractive while still being used functionally and through this, has the ability to change the atmosphere of a home.

Research

Research, when it comes to designing, cannot necessarily be define as something specific or to a date or time. It is a way of living, keeping your eyes open to what is around you. Seeing the abstract forms or the natural lines of nature outside. The cracks and grooves in a tree trunk, the way leaves are scattered on the ground, the shapes it makes, the ripples in water when the wind blows over it. That is the kind of constant research that in the end accumulates and comes together into a product, such as the creation of the Optique Bench.

Inspiration

Many of Albert Potgieter's inspiration comes from the awe of observing nature, the lines and shapes that it produces. The Optique Bench design is no exception. The inspiration came whilst being on the family game farm in South Africa, observing tree lines, golden grass fields waving in the wind and the many intricacies of the bushveld. The design idea that started in South Africa, together with the need to produce an environmentally friendly design by using off-cut pieces of wood, turned into the first prototype of the Optique bench. This design still carries those raw, wild yet linear lines and awe that is seen in nature.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Martijn Roos, Optique Bench, 2020 Image #2: Photographer Martijn Roos, Optique Bench, 2020 Image #3: Photographer Martijn Roos, Optique Bench, 2020 Image #4: Photographer Martijn Roos, Optique Bench, 2020 Image #5: Photographer Martijn Roos, Optique Bench, 2020

Project Overview

Optique Bench has been a Iron winner in the Furniture Design award category in the year 2021 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Iron A' Design Award is awarded to good designs that meet the rigorous professional and industrial standards set by the A' Design Awards. This recognition is reserved for works that demonstrate a solid understanding of design principles and show creativity within their execution. Recipients of the Iron A' Design Award are acknowledged for their practical innovations and contributions to their respective fields, providing solutions that improve quality of life and foster positive change. These designs are a testament to the skill and dedication of their creators, showcasing their ability to address real-world challenges through thoughtful design.

Iron Recognition

Albert Potgieter was recognized with the coveted Iron A' Design Award in 2022, a testament to excellence of their work Optique Bench.

Albert Potgieter Press Releases

Explore the world of Albert Potgieter through our press releases, designed for media members to use freely and enrich your content. Press members can now immediately access 1 press releases.

Introducing Optique: A Functional Art Bench by Albert Potgieter

Discover the inspiration, craftsmanship, and unique features of the Optique Bench

Albert Potgieter Newsroom

Access Albert Potgieter Newsroom to delve into the world of top-tier design and accolades.