BRC Designs - Benjamin Rollins Caldwell

“Risen in 30 Days” is a furniture collection in which concrete is poured into holes in the ground which serve as the mold for each individual piece.  As the name suggests, each piece remains in its grave for 30 days and then is risen to life.  Each unique acid stained zombie furniture piece stands on stainless steel rods.

Designer Benjamin Rollins Caldwell spent two months in Ghana, Africa apprenticing in a fantasy design coffin workshop during the fall of 2011.  The act of creating intricate, well thought out functional coffins, which were then quickly buried (in concrete lined graves) never to be seen again; ignited the idea for this furniture concept.  Caldwell wanted to create furniture which would be created in the ground, but resurrected and enjoyed and experienced for a lifetime.  Unlike the design coffins, Caldwell sought uncontrollable variables, thus letting the zombies take on a life of their own.  Each zombie grave was dug and lined with plastic sheeting which folded and wrinkled in areas, creating the unique surface textures and variations in the final concrete form.  Once the zombies were risen from the ground with the help of a Bobcat and forklifts, each piece was acid stained creating a surface which resembles a zombie’s rotten and bloody flesh.  In keeping with the experimental nature of the project, each piece is identified as “Test Subject” followed by the first letter or two letters of the furniture piece (Ie: C for chair , S for sofa) followed by the weight of the piece and the julian date of when the zombie came to its final embodiment.

Halide Chandelier - Twenty-six burnt out industrial halide light bulbs have been transformed into this elegant chandelier.  Each large halide bulb has been retrofitted with 4 bright white energy efficient LED lights, suspended with repurposed weaved copper cables from a stainless steel plate.  36”w x 36”d x 60”h

1089 Agitations - Materials: 1089 test tubes, pine based gel, oil based dye, stainless steel, rubber grommets. 48” x 48” x 7”

576 Agitations - Materials: 576 test tubes, pine based gel, oil based dye, stainless steel, rubber grommets. 36” x 36” x 7”

Spineless Side Table -Book spines and brass upholstery nails form the patchwork surface of the Spineless Side Table. The side table features two drawer compartments finished in a red stained oak and high gloss black lacquer.

Approximately 20”h x 24”w x 26”d

The Label Whore Cabinet - Thousands of leather and faux leather jean labels are hand nailed to an abstract cabinet structure making up the patchwork surface of the Label Whore Cabinet. The cabinet features eight internal compartments finished in a red stained oak and high gloss black urethane. All the oak wood used in making up the cabinet is salvaged from defunct pianos. 

71”w x 67”h 22”d