Baraga

Baraga, a small port in Michigan, was a natural stop for voyagers and traders in the 17th century. Like the port, the Baraga stool is a great place to perch for surveying one’s environment or for taking a moment’s rest. In three heights, with many powder-coat color options for its base, and in combination with oak, walnut, or felt seats, Baraga’s forward-looking take on a traditional seat furthers the principles of ergonomic and sustainable design concepts. The stool can be interpreted to suit many environments from the rustic and casual to the very sleek and corporate. Playful, soft, and colorful in felt, or very rich in wood grains, either natural or also beautifully colored, the result is very tactile due to the combination of its sculpted form and choice of materials.

Designer - Altherr Désile Park

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The Place

Baraga: a port on Lake Michigan which, starting in the 17th century became a natural stop for early voyagers and traders following the south shore of Lake Superior westward from Sault Ste. Marie.
Like the Baraga stool the port was a great place to perch as one surveyed the landscape or for taking a moment’s rest.

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The Seat Shape

Baraga’s seat is molded after old cast iron tractor seats. Adapted from those used in the 1850s on horse-drawn equipment they were so well designed a farmer could comfortably sit all day, despite being of a hard material. No padding or cushion was necessary and designers even crafted ‘art’ pieces using this metal form (Achille Castiglioni, designed the ‘Mezzadro’ (sharecropper) Seat in 1957.)

There have also been many designer executions in solid lumber, but Leland’s Baraga is a much more modern expression by virtue of its plywood seat.

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The Seat Material and Frame

While the molded design historically provided great comfort without requiring padding or cushions, Leland is pushing that comfort further with the offering of a PET felt seat in addition to the plywood. Baraga’s metal frame is an expression of the skeletal wireframe of a 3D object: its connection points, lines and curves represent the edges of the furniture while functioning like the setting of a piece of jewelry.

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The Place

Baraga: a port on Lake Michigan which, starting in the 17th century became a natural stop for early voyagers and traders following the south shore of Lake Superior westward from Sault Ste. Marie.
Like the Baraga stool the port was a great place to perch as one surveyed the landscape or for taking a moment’s rest.

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The Seat Shape

Baraga’s seat is molded after old cast iron tractor seats. Adapted from those used in the 1850s on horse-drawn equipment they were so well designed a farmer could comfortably sit all day, despite being of a hard material. No padding or cushion was necessary and designers even crafted ‘art’ pieces using this metal form (Achille Castiglioni, designed the ‘Mezzadro’ (sharecropper) Seat in 1957.)

There have also been many designer executions in solid lumber, but Leland’s Baraga is a much more modern expression by virtue of its plywood seat.

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The Seat Material and Frame

While the molded design historically provided great comfort without requiring padding or cushions, Leland is pushing that comfort further with the offering of a PET felt seat in addition to the plywood. Baraga’s metal frame is an expression of the skeletal wireframe of a 3D object: its connection points, lines and curves represent the edges of the furniture while functioning like the setting of a piece of jewelry.

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Specifications and Downloads

Oak Finishes

Oak Finishes
Blue Sky (114M)

Oak Finishes
Sienna (113M)

Oak Finishes
Evergreen (112M)

Oak Finishes
Morel (66M)

Metal Finishes

Powder Coat
Matte Pine (MPN)

Powder Coat
Matte Blue Sky (MBS)

Powder Coat
Matte Sienna (MSN)

Textured Powder Coat
Black Textured (BT)

Textured Powder Coat
White Textured (WT)

Textured Powder Coat
Mercury Textured (MRT)

Textured Powder Coat
Mineral Textured (MNT)

Textured Powder Coat
Burnish Textured (BNT)

Textured Powder Coat
Foundry Textured (FNT)

Veneers

Veneers
Natural Walnut Matte (08M)

Veneers
Natural White Oak (12M)

PET Felt

PET Felt
White Noise (PET00)

PET Felt
Abalone (PET01)

PET Felt
Shamrock (PET06)

PET Felt
Burnt Clay (PET07)

PET Felt
Merlot (PET08)

PET Felt
Royal (PET09)

PET Felt
Turmeric (PET11)

PET Felt
Laurel (PET12)

PET Felt
Charcoal (PET13)

Textiles

Selected Variations

Baraga Bar Stool

Baraga Side Stool

Baraga Counter Stool

Baraga Bar Stool

Baraga Side Stool

Baraga Bar Stool

Baraga Counter Stool

Baraga Side Stool

Baraga Counter Stool

Stories

Baraga –The Past Reimagined for the Future

Since its introduction nearly 200 years ago the cast-iron tractor seat has typically been re-imagined in solid lumber that is highly shaped and limited in seating position. Baraga is a contemporary expression of that typology by virtue of its gentle curves and generous seat formed in plywood and recycled PET felt.

08/11/23

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Baraga – The Journey Forward

While wood remains the ultimate renewable material, the pre- and post-consumer recyclability of PET Felt not only adds an optimal sustainability, but also a softer and more tactile seat on the Baraga stool.

04/11/23

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Baraga In Use

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