Max Frommeld and Arno Mathies founded their studio Maarno in 2012 furthering their research on folding which they started during their studies at the Royal College of Art in London.
Folding Sled
Max Frommeld and Arno Mathies’ sled is made from sustainable materials and combines traditional artisanal skills with contemporary technology.
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- 22 July 2015
- Hyères
After their debut with a folding boat and controls for the automotive industry and equipment for construction sites, they changed typology and took on a symbol of their childhood: sleds.
The Folding Sled is made from sustainable materials and combines traditional artisanal skills with contemporary technology. It is the result of local resources and skills and is manufactured by Graf Schlitten, a family-run sled manufacturer based in Sulgen for almost a century. The ash used for the runners is collected from around lake Constance in the north of Switzerland. Traditionally employed to make sleds, it lends itself perfectly to steam bending which gives the sled its curved shape. The recyclable plastic seat is cut out and grooved via computer aided production tools. It acts as a hinge for folding and provides the sled with its final shape, when it is connected to the wood via catch levers on two metal pivoting arches. Its solidity and its flexibility offer the sled a perfect tension between the elements. A hybrid between two shapes of sled (a Davos and a Rodel), the Folding Sled is suitable for both family and sports use.
The project won the Special Award of the Jury at Design Parade 10.
Folding Sled
Design: Max Frommeld and Arno Mathies