A Night to ‘Rembrace’ — and the Largest Vellum Yet

 

Grace Schweigert poses with her award-winning Vellum piece “Rembrace: Comfort in a Capitalist Context.” 

Cal Poly students and the San Luis Obispo community have spoken: It’s the largest Vellum Furniture Competition and Exhibition to date.  

A record 262 student entries, Friday night’s packed house greeted attendees with contemporary tables, modular chairs, dynamic light fixtures, and experimental pieces of all kinds.  

For fifth-year architecture student Grace Schweigert, the event was a first. A cathartic first that would culminate with her taking home the prestigious SPaCe Architecture Milano Grand Prize — news broken over the phone by a friend yelling, “You’re going to Milan!”  

“I’d never been to a Vellum competition before. When I arrived, I was in awe of the amazing furniture students had created,” she said. “I know most of the people competing this year and how talented they are, so I knew their work wouldn’t disappoint.”  

In partnership with Vellum Design Build — competition co-host and the first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified contractor in SLO County — the architecture studio provides a real-time test that incorporates budgets, materials, engagement with suppliers, fabricators, and manufacturers, plus timelines and construction schedules not typically found in academia.  

“The beauty of the Vellum Competition is that roughly half the entries have a critical take, pushing the agenda of the students’ design discourse,” said event co-organizer and architecture professor Tom di Santo. “The other half of the entries are simply beautiful works of functional art.” 

In this year's case, the winning entry supports the foremost. Although, as di Santo confirms, “The reality is, many pieces are both supporting a critical argument in design while also providing unique examples of the Vitruvian triad of firmness, commodity and delight.”  

Schweigert's “Rembrace: Comfort in a Capitalist Context” addresses homelessness and the misconceptions and stigmas attached to it. How an out-of-sight, out-of-mind culture shapes our political, social and economic way of life.  

“Rembrace” combines the words “remnant” and “embrace” to describe how discarded items — often used by those unhoused — hug the user. As someone interacts with the chair — as the design intends the user to — it slowly comforts and embraces them. It’s then that its scrapped parts create an intimacy with the user, making them aware of their actions to embrace and be embraced. 

For Schweigert, reusing items colored by negative bias to find comfort is a first step toward breaking stereotypes and generating a new perspective.  

“We know harm is happening and keep it out of view,” she said. “If we cannot see the landfill, the workers or the harm, we will carry on and overlook our impact, even when we notice it.”  

In physical form, it’s a recycled accent chair with a complementary leg rest. Its contents: a chair and beanbags, intentionally dressed with crocheted covers over recycled t-shirts, pants, skirts, and blankets.  

 

(L/R) Design sketches of the “Rembrace: Comfort in a Capitalist Context.” 

The process: Schweigert hand-sewed the sheets, blankets, and shirts together, then stuffed the forms with discarded fabrics and recycled bean bag filling. Any scraps, including leftover thread and small clothing pieces, were incorporated into these forms to move toward a zero-waste chair. Post clothing base, she added a second layer of black recycled fabric. 

“The final top layer was crocheted. I chose crochet to create the cover because it is the only stitch that cannot be replicated by technology, as it is too complex,” she said. “To me, this is one of my favorite things about crochet; it is so personal and carries truth in each stitch.” 

A community of friends helped her make the last few balls of string as the Vellum show approached. To Grace, their help made the process and the final chair that much more meaningful.  

“Receiving the grand prize was something I honestly didn’t think was in the cards for me,” Schweigert recalled. “I was overjoyed, surprised and confused all at the same time. It’s something I will never forget, and I’m so appreciative of the recognition and the opportunity to go to Milan.” 

Audiences can check out Grace’s portfolio to learn more about ‘Rembrace’ and her past architecture projects. A complete list of Vellum award recipients is below. 

 

Scholarship recipients: 

• ga+d Structural Invention Award: Rachel Waid.
• CWA Studios, Craftsmanship Award: Jack White.
• DRD, Special Timber Award: Sam Sundström.
• Studio_2g, Cradle to Cradle Award: Lily Hanna, Samhita Vallamreddy, and Ethan Sanders. 
• Dr. Daniel Lewis, Plein Aire Award: Nora Daly.
• MYLR, Modernist Award: Bennett Herbolsheimer.
• esser studios, Contemporary Award: Kenneth Wong.
• RRM, 100% Pure Award: Kyle Henderlite. 

 

Special book recipients: 

• M:oME Book Award_1: Jack Callaghan
• M:oME Book Award_2: Lauren Sottosanti
• RNT Book Award: Clark Reynolds
• Satellite of Love Book Award: David A. Hernandez
• Flux Design Book Award: Bennett Herbolsheimer  

 

Honorable mentions:  

• Thilo Willrett
• Garrett Goodman
• Casey Lavin
• Kelly Houseman
• Samhita Vallamreddy  

 

Other categories: 

• Vellum Design Build, Vellum Prize: Elise Jackson.
• Peoples' Choice Award: Bates Detwiler. 

• Peoples' Choice Award (Runner-up): Kyle Freking and Elise Jackson (one point difference).