m a r i u s a f r a m
K O N S T F A C K
d e g r e e p r o j e c t
Humans usually have no issues in understanding dogs because the latter are evolutionarily in tune with humans, making
dogs’ faces - and emotions - easily readable to people, because dogs tend to be open, honest and compliant.
Cats are mysterious, and despite their overwhelming
popularity - outnumbering dogs by as many as three (3) to
one (1) - they remain aloof, cryptic and are therefore much
harder to read. As a result of this, cats can be
overlooked, underappreciated and misunderstood.
c a t s
& d o g s : o u r m o s t
Knowing that cats can be easily overlooked and misunderstood because of their aloofness, I want to combat this notion.
With my project, my aim is to encourage more intimate and
more frequent interactions between the human and the cat so as to bring the cat into a new light, and in the process also offer (indoor) cats a way to exercise their (demanding) needs
in the immediate vicinity of their caretakers. I hope this
will yield more understanding and affection towards cats and
strengthen the bond between cats and humans.
PANTER
TIGER
Daily observations and interactions with my two cats, Panter and Tiger.
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Mock-up that simulates the mash-up between a lounge chair and a cat gym. This mock-up stood there for three days and during that time my
cats slept, lounged and played in it.
FELIFORM is an idea that derives from my daily interactions with my cats, and is a mash-up of a lounge chair and a cat gym.
METAL
FRAME SEATING CAT GYM SEATING & CAT GYM
(WOOL) FELT
VELVET BED FRAME CLOTH CARPET (WHITE GLAZED)
WOOD (SOFA) CLOTH
This material pallette derives from observing my cats in their interactions with different materials in their home environment.
METAL FRAME
CAT GYM
Frame of metal, preferably silver in color (in order to
achieve a “softer” look)
Removable scratch textiles in order to be cleaned from
cat vomit and cat hair Can be attached to
any surface on the wooden surfaces
Cat’s color vision is limited to shades of
blue and green
Metal Sturdy Rigidity Hygienic Rectaungular profile Linearity Attain a heavy central core Cat gym is made of modular
wooden boxes that come in an array of expressions by
means of perforations
The wooden boxes can be mixed and matched to create different
configurations and pathways by utilizing the perforations in the boxes.
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400 mm, 450 mm, 500 mm
400 mm, 450 mm, 500 mm 400 mm, 450 mm, 500 mm
SQUARE
MODULE TRIANGLE MODULE
h i n g e d f a s t e n e r s
The modules are fastened to one another by means of hinged
Hinged fastener
Recess for pad magnet
Recess for cap magnet
Screw Rampamuff fitted into
Magnetic recesses for pad attachment
Powerful magnets, attached to pads anc caps, that slot
into the magnetic recesses Magnetic recesses
for cap attachment
c a p s & p a d s
The modules have circular recesses that are fitted with powerful neodymium magnets. The caps and pads are also fitted with said
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h o w d o y o u o r d e r t h i s p r o d u c t ?
In the product website there is an easy-to-use interactive planning feature that allows you to combine modules and
a s s e m b l y
a s s e m b l y
a s s e m b l y
a s s e m b l y
The choice of material for the modules of Feliform is solid hardwood. Solid wood is a term most commonly used to distinguish between ordinary lumber and engineered
(man-made) wood. Solid wood is the same all the way through, making repairs
relatively easy. The sustainability profile of this material is good durability and low material footprint when the wood is sourced from sustainably managed
FSC-certified forests, and especially so if the wood is sourced locally, ensuring that the lumber has undergone minimal transportation, thus minimizing its carbon footprint. The production process of wood from lumber creates less waste compared with other wood products. Furniture that is made of solid wood is very resistant and will last for centuries if maintained well. Solid wood products age gracefully – even when they do develop wear and bumps, it often just adds to the character of the piece. These imperfections do not become an eyesore and they do not end up
something you want to conceal. By comparison, lighter, laminated particleboard can chip, dent, crack and peel back with time, and this does indeed become an eyesore. All of the benefits of solid wood lead to a higher initial price point. You pay for a superior material compared to its other wood competitors on the market, and you pay for durability. However, it is those same things that make solid wood a much better value. The solid wood will last, the veneer piece will not. You can pay for a single, high-quality piece, or you can pay several times over for something less.
Hardwood can be locally sourced in Sweden, and common hardwood tree species that grow here are birch, oak, beech, ash, and maple, just to name a few. The raw wood material for Feliform is processed in a production unit in Sweden
where all the modular components are milled. Being of solid wood, the
Feliform components need no gluing and no other manufacturing of any sort that are otherwise necessary in the manufacturing of particleboard and
plywood. When the components have been cut to size and then milled, the final step of the manufacturing process is the surface finishing where the surface of the pieces is sanded down and treated to enhance the appearance of the
wood and increase its resistance to moisture and other environmental factors.
I can see this project in the private home of someone who has cats and wants to spend time and bond with their feline
friends; in cat shelters where staff spends a lot of time
with cats to socialize with them in order to get them used to
humans; and in cat cafés where visitors go to have a fika
whilst spending time with cats (which are up for adoption).
