Art and Architecture group public works year long community engagement commission culminates in the community build “Last Chair Arch” in High Wycombe. public works will create an ambitious free-standing, dry-jointed arch made solely from chairs, which will be assembled by students and residents from the local area.

Masterclasses in Sitting, is an art commission lead by public works for the Wye Dene development in High Wycombe. Taking as a starting point High Wycombe’s rich history as the centre for furniture production, public works developed a project, which uses ‘sitting’ as a way of relating and connecting the new Wye Dene development with High Wycombe, its past and future. Over the past year public works has worked with residents of the Wye Dene development, furniture students and staff from Bucks New University and members from the furniture making industry to create a new Chair Arch for High Wycombe which will be realised in the Wye Dene Development. High Wycombe’s longstanding tradition of celebratory Chair Arches have inspired designers internationally while locally serving as a symbol celebrating the town’s industry and identity. Whereas in the past the furniture industry had been an active part of High Wycombe’s character it has slowly become part of its folklore. Bucks New University decision to close the furniture design and restoration courses in 2015 and 2016 will mark yet another milestone in its transformation.

The arch itself is constructed from a custom designed ‘Chair for Arching’, purpose made for building a chair arch without using any secondary structural components. In reference to the traditional furniture making techniques, the Chair Arch will be held together using only wooden pegs and wedges. The design is based on principles of the traditional Windsor Chair, produced using digital manufacturing technology and engineered timber. The ‘Chair for Arching’ and the ‘Chair Arch’ are contemporary interpretations of the two motives which have given High Wycombe world wide recognition.

The proposed ‘Last Chair Arch’ is a temporary marker of the change in High Wycombe’s Identity, dedicated to staff, students and technicians of Bucks New University who have lent their knowledge and expertise in the design and fabrication. Whilst celebrating longstanding traditions and customs the Chair Arch will be assembled in one of the newest parts of High Wycombe – the Wye Dene development which is currently under construction in Wycombe Marsh creating a link between the past and the future. The Chairs will be assembled on site in Wye Dene with the people from High Wycombe. The week long, collective assembly in September 2015 will result in a temporary chair-arch made from 170 custom designed chairs, produced collectively. The Chair Arch will remain on site for one week only after which it will be dismantled and the chairs given away for free. Henceforth the chair arch will exist as individual chairs with the people of High Wycombe and beyond.

Made with the generous support of Grymsdyke Farm and Price and Myers.

The Chair Arch will be on display from 26th September to 2nd October 2015 near the Watercress Pond, Wye Dene, High Wycombe, HP11 1LH