Collection Half13 is designed for both private and commercial use. Special considerations may be taken into account for each commercial order. Debris access or locking points can be custom tailored to each order. Inquire about Trade and Commercial orders by contacting us here.
Half13 is a collection of outdoor stainless steel furniture designed by Damian Velasquez circa 2008.
The entire furniture line is constructed from the industrial material called expanded metal. Stainless steel sheet metal is slit with large industrial equipment to expanded into a mesh like material. The openings are distinctly diamond shaped. This material is not rigid on its own. Damian’s unique approach to building with this material is based on using a rigid frame of stainless steel rod that allows the panels to interlock and become rigid when welded together.
After receiving a large pallet of stainless steel sheet from our Oklahoma USA based supplier, we begin processing the flat sheets. The sheets require initial cutting via CNC plasma. They are then de-burred and washed.
Although it may appear to be a uniform material, there is often variation in the cut edge and remaining tension within the parts. Rolling the freshly cut panels removes tension and makes the fixturing process much more efficient.
At this stage the stainless rod is also rolled into subtle curves for arms or complete circles for the round table tops. These preliminary steps must be taken to ensure the final chair or table is welded together symmetrically with no excess tension in the panels.
Collection Half13 originated from a material study and design exploration. Curiosity led designer Damian Velasquez to push the boundaries of this industrial material. Could it become something more glamorous than stair railings, BBQ grills, and protective fencing?
After thoroughly designing the furniture line available today, Damian saw how some of the sheet negatives resembled faceted angles found in origami. The idea clicked instantly. The studio drew him in after hours (weekends too) and in no time Damian had welded a very elegant model origami bird using his newly refined skills working with the material.
It didn’t take long before a full scale origami crane was designed, built, and powder coated in a beautiful orange. It served as the show piece for his booth across the United States as he sold the line.
It eventually found a home in the foothills of Tempe.
Half13 is a collection of outdoor stainless steel furniture designed by Damian Velasquez circa 2008.
The entire furniture line is constructed from expanded stainless steel sheets. Flat sheets of steel are fed into industrial equipment that rolls, slits, and expands it into a mesh like material. The openings are distinctly diamond shaped. This material is not rigid on its own. Damian’s design creates a frame with stainless steel rod that allows the panels to take on a rigid structure when welded together.
Tig welding is the primary method of constructing Half13. Tig welding is an art, a craft, and a science. Some chairs in the line have over 1,000 individual tig welds that join the expanded metal mesh to the frame. This attention to detail and zen like construction process has continually been refined year after year.
Catch a glimpse of the process below. You’ll get to see a Philly Club chair begin to take shape.
