Chair 01 is an extendable furniture that focuses on functionality, responsible consumption, and challenges the throwaway culture.
The chair is designed with a special emphasis on user customization and sustainable consumption. It is created to accommodate changing needs and make maintenance easy for the consumer.
Chair 01 can be expanded and compressed. Its elegant form makes it suitable for use as both a seating unit or a side table, depending on the need. Sustainable consumption has also been a driving factor in the design. To break away from the disposable culture and promote long-lasting use, the design allows you to replace the woven material when it becomes worn. This step towards self-repair minimizes waste and gives you the choice of what material the woven part should be made from, creating a chair that aligns with your personal style and values.
In this prototype, I have experimented with upcycling old bicycle tires, which gives Chair 01 a unique expression and serves as an example of one of the many possibilities to leave your own mark on the chair.
Easy repair - multiple functions
1 - Woven material as inspiration
In my design process, I have drawn inspiration from various materials that I have woven together. There is something intriguing about the different textures and structures interweaving with each other. I have utilized materials such as bast, linen, and plastic, experimented with creating imprints using woven samples, and ultimately, I have sketched abstract representations of my woven samples, which I could then translate into the initial stages of a form.
An Oval Shape with Negative Space
The furniture is inspired by the oval shape with negative space. I am exploring various possibilities to incorporate the oval element into the design of my furniture.
Weaving Technique - Easy Repair
In my view, woven furniture possesses a distinct ability to imbue value into a piece. The craftsmanship itself adds value to a piece of furniture, as it conveys that someone has invested time in the product. Moreover, the weaving technique can be relatively simple to execute, depending on the pattern and thickness of the woven material. Thus, I saw an opportunity to create a woven seat that the consumer can repair quite easily on their own.
material relation
Experimenting with woven materials of wood, linen, and leather to explore the relationship between the materials.
sketch - final design
Sketch of my final idea for an extendable piece of furniture that promotes responsible consumption by incorporating multiple functions.
prototype using recycled materials
1:1 prototype of the chair's two seats, illustrating the simple extendable mechanism.
The prototype is constructed from excess wood and offcuts from the furniture manufacturer Kvist.
The prototype is constructed from excess wood and offcuts from the furniture manufacturer Kvist.
The design incorporates old bicycle tires that have been woven for the seat. This choice serves two purposes: it explores the potential of reusing bicycle tires while simultaneously providing a unique aesthetic expression. The contrast between the black rubber and the natural, light wood creates a distinctive design statement that captures attention.
