Drewnorafa
Drewnorafa is a set of building blocks for children which forms are inspired by the shape and structure of a coral reef. By arranging it, you can create your own abstract reef. In this way, creativity is stimulated and the coral – often used as decoration – can remain untouched. The rounded forms of the blocks also allude to the work of the 20th-century craftsman from Warsaw – Edward Manitius.
Collaborator / Client:
Museum of Warsaw (Praga district)
Technology & Materials:
Lathe turned beech wood
Year & Place:
2021, Warsaw, Poland
Development
Starting point
The project started from visiting Museum of Warsaw and participating in lecture about Edward Manitius followed by workshops and analysis of his toys. These helped me create first design principles that shaped the process. I decided to get inspiration from natural world, just like Manitius in his early work, but form it into something modular and more abstract in shape – like his post-war projects.
Process
Main technology used by Manitius was Lathe turning wood, which determines rounded forms. First days were spend on sketching and creating optimal shapes for modular toy using birch wood in designated technology.
Another step was developing the way of connecting elements. To maintain simplicity of form I decided to make elements the way that they could be connected with each other by using holes and pegs derived from the piece in a turning process. However, adding holes required additional step in the process – drilling with table-top drill and special cylindrical holder which enabled maintaining correct angles and positioning of the holes.
Entire set was later placed in cardboard box with custom banderolle.
Sketches
First prototypes
Lathe turning
Drilling with cylindrical holder
Stacking in the box
Testing the connecting ability
Result
Final project
3 sets of Drewnorafa have been delivered to Museum of Warsaw. Each set contained 20 hand-turned pieces from quality beech wood, packed in a cardboard box with banderole with dedicated graphics and logo of Museum of Warsaw.
During exhibitions, at least 1 set is always available to play with.
Contests & Exhibitions
Playthings. Edward Manitius and His Toy Factory – exhibition 2021-22
Museum of Toys and Play in Kielce – exhibition 2022
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