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CONNOR HOLLAND DESIGN
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  • NEWS
  • SHOP
    • Furniture
    • Accessories
    • Saturn Six
    • Geodesic Range
  • ABOUT
  • FURNITURE
    • Apollo & Artemis Tables
    • Aeroformed Table
    • Aeroformed Chair
    • Graphite Stool
    • Pluto Table
    • Saturn Six
    • Apollo Tripod
    • Lilo bench
    • Constructor Table
    • Birch Wardrobe
    • Slope Bookcase
    • Geodesic Range >
      • Geodesic Dome Table
      • Geodesic Cylinder Table
      • Geodesic Cylinder Stool
      • Geodesic Console Table
    • Baker Chairs
    • Lightning Side Table
    • Copper Clamp Table
  • PRODUCTS
    • Apollo & Artemis Candlesticks
    • Vulcan Candlesticks
    • Inflated Mirror
    • Hydroformed Bowl and Lamp
    • Pagoda Lamp
    • Pagoda Vase
    • Girder Candle Holder
    • Pulsar Candlesticks
    • Orb Mirror
    • Tripod Orb Mirror
    • Pluto Bowl
    • Gemini Wall Light
    • Neptune Lamp
    • Volcano Candlesticks
  • PROJECTS
    • A Stool
    • Guardian Angel
    • Workshop Build
    • High Voltage Art Panel
    • Lightning Cabinets
    • High Voltage Pyrography
    • Polyblocks
    • Experimental Castings
  • NEWS

Shaping Steel With Tap Water

Lilo Bench by Connor Holland

Lilo Bench
May 2015

I designed the Lilo Bench to showcase the strength and beauty of inflated metal, created with a homemade version of the Hydroforming process. A pressure washer is used to pump water into a 2D sheet metal profile, which forces the sheets apart and inflates the object like a metal balloon.

Focusing on this exciting process for my final project at Kingston university, I created over a dozen inflated steel objects; to determine which 2D shapes can be successfully transformed into 3D products. After several experiments with simple shapes, I decided to try a test piece that imitated the complex form of an inflatable plastic 'Lilo'. The test was a success, discovering that the Lilo form makes an ideal bench seat, as the distinctive structure is incredibly strong and surprisingly comfortable.
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Wanting to keep strength as my main focus, I designed concrete and steel supports inspired by bridge engineering, providing a solid foundation while also creating the illusion that the Lilo is floating.​​
After the Lilo is inflated, the edges and surface are sanded smooth before being powder coated. I chose a bright and glossy finish to mimic a plastic inflatable, this gives the bench a soft appearance, so people are often shocked when they discover that it’s actually metal!
Winner of the Young Furniture Makers Bespoke Award 2015
Awarded 'Best in Show' at the Young Furniture Makers Exhibition 2015
Winner of 'Student Designer of the Year' at Mixology 2016 interior design awards
Young Furniture Makers Bespoke Award
Mixology winner Student Designer of the Year 2016
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