This Chair Allows Plants to Grow On it And Puts Nature Before Human Needs

Notice that cool abstract design on the chair? It’s not just some fabric, it’s real plants! 3 design students from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden changed the narrative of chairs for humans. Why do chairs always have to be used for us to come sit on them? We’re all taught that plants are living beings right? What if these living things could practically bring furniture to life? This chair is a unique piece of furniture that prioritizes plant life over human occupants by allowing them to grow on it.

Designers: Alice Hultqvist, Emelie Sjöberg and Linnea Nilsson

The Chia-Chair is different from regular chairs. Instead of cushions or upholstery, the chair has a seat and backrest that are composed of a knitted, knotted tube that doubles as a planting bed for chia seeds. The idea is to let the plants be the main users of the chair, and humans are just visitors. The designers emphasize that humans should approach it with respect, recognizing that it’s a living thing.

Hultqvist, Sjöberg, and Nilsson, all students in the MA Design program at HDK-Valand, the University of Gothenburg’s art and design academy, showcased their creations at the Making Transparency exhibition. This event, hosted in the student-focused Greenhouse section of the Stockholm Furniture Fair, explored posthumanist design principles.

The inspiration behind the Chia-Chair arose from the designers’ contemplation of humanity’s negative impact on the planet. They acknowledged that throughout the last century, humans have prioritized their needs at the expense of nature and wildlife, leading to severe consequences. The Chia-Chair, therefore, serves as a symbolic gesture, aiming to redress the balance by placing the plant at the forefront and demanding reciprocity from its human users.

yanko design images to size – Chia_chair_furntiure_05

Constructed with an ash wood frame and a wool sock filled with polyester stuffing as the cushion, the Chia-Chair offers a distinctive aesthetic. The chia seeds, mixed with water, were planted in the knitted structure, and the designers diligently watered them twice daily. To maintain optimal growing conditions, a plastic cover was placed over the chair overnight to retain moisture.

While the Chia-Chair may be more of a statement piece than a functional item, the designers foresee a future where greenery becomes integral to our living spaces. In an era of increasing urbanization that disconnects people from nature, incorporating natural elements into furniture and homes is seen as a natural progression.

The Chia-Chair serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the relationship between humans and nature. By prioritizing plant life over human comfort, the designers challenge us to reconsider our impact on the environment and encourage a more harmonious coexistence with the natural world.

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Top 10 Sustainable Chair Designs For An Eco-Friendly Home

2020 was a life-altering and drastic year, and for the past 4 years, we have been redeeming our careless mistakes of the past and living more consciously and sustainably. We cannot ignore the needs of our planet anymore, we need to consider the environment, and what better way to start doing that than from our own homes? Sustainable chairs are taking the design industry by storm, they’re a step towards making our homes and our daily lives more eco-friendly and sustainable. They’re an attempt to cast aside toxic materials, and instead, add furniture designs to our home that won’t rot away on Earth for years once we’re done with them. We’ve curated a collection of furniture products created from cork, 3D printing, and even coffee-based waste! The options are endless, and the end result is the same – a greener, healthier, and happier Mother Earth!

1. 3D-Printed Chair

Created by Johannes Steinbauer Office For Design, these innovative 3D-printed chairs were designed using additive manufacturing, and without utilizing fabrics, springs, and foam. The chair doesn’t include any springs or foam, but it is still super functional and comfortable to sit in.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design of the chair is quite simple with four legs, a round seat, and a single bar at the back. You can add other components like racks and textiles through 3D printing. The various parts can be assembled and disassembled, and once its lifespan ends, you can dispose of the different parts separately, and recycle them.

What we like

  • The chair is easy to assemble and disassemble
  • Sustainable design that employs 3D printing

What we dislike

  • No instruction on how to have a space-saving variant

2. Hemp & Eelgrass Chair

Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen collaborated with furniture brand Norman Copenhagen to build a collection of plant-based chairs, which were unveiled at the Stockholm Design Week. The collection includes two unique chairs, one made from hemp, and one made from a combination of hemp and eelgrass.

Why is it noteworthy?

Hemp is a type of cannabis plant, while eelgrass is like seaweed. The biomaterials were used to replace injection-molded plastic, which created a shell chair supported by powder-coated steel legs.

What we like

  • The material used is recyclable and is an innovative mix of two plants

What we dislike

  • Aesthetically the chair isn’t very pleasing and could be an eyesore in homes if not paired properly with the decor

3. VALE Collection

Called the VALE collection, LAYER designed this eco-friendly chair and stool collection for the US furniture brand KFI Studios. It is made from recycled PET bottles and was designed as a protest against the plastic waste that is drowning and polluting the planet’s oceans and landfills.

Why is it noteworthy?

The collection is LAYER and KFI Studio’s eco-friendly solution to the rising issue of plastic waste, It is a refreshing change, and a fine specimen of sustainable furniture, in a day and age where 9 million tons of furniture are found in landfills.

What we like

  • Made using an eco-friendly and durable material produced from recycled PET bottles

What we dislike

  • The looks of the chairs and stool are a bit boring, more aesthetic details could have been added

4. OTO Chair

Called the OTO Chair, and designed by Alessandro Stabile and Martinelli Venezia, this chair is designed to be a “manifesto for circular design”. The chair is a recycled plastic chair that aims to achieve a goal of full sustainability, in materials choices and supply chain – as a complete whole.

Why is it noteworthy?

It has a clean, minimal, and simple form, and comes in a bunch of fun colors to pick from – onyx, fog, mustard, coral, forest, and eucalyptus. You can choose the color that best suits your personality and interior decor style.

What we like

  • The production of each OTO chair removes almost 500 grams of plastic from the sea

What we dislike

  • Its hard, flat surfaces look a little too rigid for comfort

5. Gago Rocking Chair

Portuguese design brand Dam just released a cork-clad rocking chair to celebrate 10 years of the brand’s existence. The innovative-looking chair is inspired by seaplanes.

Why is it noteworthy?

When you look at the Gago rocking chair, it brings to mind the image of the rounded shape of an aviator’s helmet, which is an ode to the first successful crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean by a Portuguese pilot in 1922. The label of every chair says “1922, *8383km”. The number represents the milestone journey between Lisbon and Rio de Janeiro.

What you like

  • The chair is made from cork, making it sustainable and durable

What we dislike

  • Being a rocking chair, it is a niche furniture design and doesn’t hold utility for everyone

6. Bend Chair

Created by the Thai design brand Waste is More, the Bend Chair is made using coffee-based waste, wood, and recycled plastic. The minimalist-looking and simple chair is made from More’s signature PlasCoff materials, which is an eco-friendly and durable alternative to other materials.

Why is it noteworthy?

The unique material merges recycled plastic with waste from coffee bean processing, creating a design that is pretty sustainable for your home. What makes the furniture design even more interesting is that the deeper the shade, the higher is the content of coffee waste.

What we like

  • Constructed using a locally sourced rubber tree timber and coffee-based waste
  • It is the ultimate mix of ergonomics, sustainability, functionality and good looks

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit unassuming and simple

7. Tellus Bench

Called the Tellus Bench, this innovative seating design was created by the street furniture brand Vestre and designer Emma Olbers. It is made using fossil-free steel, and no carbon sessions are created during its manufacturing process.

Why is it noteworthy?

The steel used to build the Tellus Bench was manufactured by Swedish steelmaker SSAB in its converted blast furnace, which uses green hydrogen instead of coal for heat, and emits no carbon dioxide.

What we like

  • The bench features wide armrests and offers comfort to the user, while also providing sufficient space to place a coffee or tea cup

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are a bit dull and unassuming

8. Liberty Ocean Chair

The Liberty Ocean Chair is designed by the office furniture brand Humanscale and was made using one kilogram of abandoned fishing nets found in the ocean. It is said to be the first task chair made from recycled fishing nets and is a commendable effort on Humanscale’s behalf to tackle the issue of ocean plastic.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Liberty Ocean Chair is a successor of the original Liberty chair, which is quite ergonomic and minimal as well. But the Liberty Ocean Chair takes it one step further with an eco-friendly and sustainable ethos which is highly valuable in today’s times.

What we like

  • Features a form-sensing mesh back

What we dislike

  • There seems to be no option for customization

9. Stack Chair

The innovative Stack chair features a compass-like four-legged base, where you can stack the chair almost to infinity. But of course, you’ll be limited by how much vertical space there is, and how high you can safely reach.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design has two parts, the base and the shell, and the parts can be connected by simply snapping the base underneath the shell’s designed rim. The two become a single and stable piece of furniture, which completely simplifies the manufacturing process, as well as assembly and shipping.

What we like

  • You can mix and match different base and shell colors or even materials

What we dislike

  • The chair doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long durations of time

10. Fuld

Called Fuld, this nesting chair by Herman Miller is a unique and one-of-a-kind innovation with a sustainable twist. It’s an efficient and effective solution that will reconfigure your workspace without compromising on sleekness, minimalism, and style.

Why is it noteworthy?

It is a revolutionary one-piece construction equipped with an inverted Y shape, which makes the production process reduce the water creation. The back is equipped with elasticity, to provide the utmost comfort as you shift and move around.

What we like

  • Made from 50 percent post-consumer recycled content

What we dislike

  • There isn’t much head support if you’re quite tall

The post Top 10 Sustainable Chair Designs For An Eco-Friendly Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

These Comfy & Stylish Chairs Will Bring Some 1960s Elegance & Flair To Your Living Room

The Danish design studio Karakter rereleased a dining and lounge chair that was created in the 1960s by design duo Afra and Tobia Scarpa. I love it when modern design brands recreate, rerelease, or revamp iconic designs of the yesteryears, it gives them a chance to shine again while allowing us to enjoy and experience the excellent design philosophies and styles of the past. They serve as sources of inspiration, letting us draw from the design lessons of the old, allowing us to use them to elevate the designs of the present.

Designer: Karakter

Dubbed the 925 Scarpa lounge chair, and the 121 Scarpa dining chair, both the chairs feature a characteristic keyhole-shaped cutout in their backrests, double trestle frames, and rounded joinery, forming elegant and sophisticated furniture pieces that have a sturdy personality. The 121 dining chair was inspired by a sketch made by architect and designer Carlo Scarpa and was produced with the 925 lounge variation.

The dining chair has a narrow and upright composition and form, while the lounge chair has a lower, wider form with a generous and cozy set. Both the chairs feature a sturdy wooden frame that is beautifully contrasted by the soft and supple leather upholstery of the seat and back. The end result is stylish pieces that seem to stand out on their own, without calling too much attention, or being a tad bit obnoxious. They’re simple, style, yet statement pieces that can truly uplight the appearance and appeal of any living space.

Both the chairs are available in frame options made from a wide range of solid wood species, including ash. The seats can be finished in fine European leather, and you can pick from a choice of colors, including black, red, brown, and cognac, creating classy and impressive furniture pieces that will harmoniously merge your living space, and complement your other furniture possessions. They’re perfect for adding some 1960s flair and elegance to your home!

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Unusual lounge chair uses sponge-filled ropes to mimic a certain insect

The human mind is such an incredible thing, capable of creating wonderful designs and life-changing products. Of course, it is really no match against the unfathomable “mind” of nature, as seen in the sometimes awe-inspiring, sometimes bewildering things we can find in the world, both living and non-living. The complexity of nature’s design has been an inspiration for many of mankind’s creations and inventions, great and small, either just in terms of the basic form or including their function. There are times, however, when such an inspiration takes an odd turn, like this lounge chair that half looks comfy and half unsettling, especially after you learn what the peculiar piece of furniture is inspired by.

Designers: Miray Ozlem ER

At first glance, the lounge already looks unconventional, like someone laid a series of fabric tubes across a metal frame. These “ropes,” as they are called, are indeed soft and cushy, filled with sponge material to give them both volume and softness at the same time. After all, who would want to lounge on a very hard surface, especially for a long period of time?

The entire piece, however, is supposed to resemble a caterpillar entering its cocoon phase, with each rope representing a segment of the insect’s body. It’s definitely an odd association, especially considering how some people might feel uncomfortable with such crawling critters. Then again, they don’t really have to know the details of the design’s inspiration. As it turns out, the way the sponge-filled tubes go over the frame and extends to the back also makes them look like a row of snakes draped over the chair, also not a comforting image for some people.

The lounge’s design is also unusual in that it doesn’t hide the skeletal frame of the chair. In fact, it’s meant to showcase the shiny metal chrome which contrasts and complements the soft fabric of the rest of the chair. At the same time, however, the image induces a sense of discomfort and uncertainty, especially with the gaps on both sides of the chair. Despite the lounge’s width, it’s a seat made for one, and this peculiar design tries to send that message across in a very striking manner.

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This aluminum lounge chair is built for easy repairs, not so much for comfort

Chairs are designed to be comfortable to sit on unless they’re meant to be art or statement pieces rather than usable furniture. Of course, not all designs hit the mark, and some tend to value other traits like aesthetics or features over comfort. That isn’t always intentional, though, especially for chairs that are meant to be sold commercially. This lounge chair, for example, seems to check off boxes like minimalism, repairability, and sustainability, but its rather imposing industrial aesthetic might make some think twice about parking their bodies on its thin body, even if there’s a comfy cushion on the seat.

Designer: Haus Otto

Truth be told, the AL13 lounge chair doesn’t inspire much confidence because of its super thin construction. Each component is made from laser-cut aluminum sheets that seem to be too thin to support heavy objects, like your body for example. Of course, looks can be deceiving, and this chair was designed to be really stable and safe, at least enough to be sold and used both for indoor as well as outdoor use.

The chair’s extra-wide seat is flanked by extra-wide armrests that might seem too high for actually placing your arms on them. Instead, they function better as small side tables to hold your phone, book, or drink, though you have to be careful with the latter that you don’t accidentally knock it over with your arm. It can also hold your laptop, but it might not be comfortable much less ergonomic to use it in that position.

Perhaps the more interesting aspect of the AL13 lounge chair is its somewhat modular construction so that parts can be easily disassembled. This makes it easy to repair, replace, or recycle parts, which are just bent sheets of aluminum. Its distinctive shape and the added function of the armrests make the chair suitable for any spatial environment, whether indoors or outdoors.

That said, the rather hard and cold appearance of the chair might feel a little intimidating, especially if you’re a fan of softer and cozier chairs. There’s an option for upholstered seat cushions, but that still leaves out the back and armrests, not to mention making it unsuitable for outdoor use. It’s still an interesting brutalist design, though, and could be an inspiration for other variations that add a bit more comfort to the equation.

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This chair concept for fast-casual restaurants comes with a coat hanger and bag tray

The way we eat outside has been changing over the past years, and fine dining and fast food are no longer the only choices available. In many parts of the world, “fast-casual” has become a popular option that combines the speed and price of fast food establishments with the quality of full-service bistros. Despite being a category in its own right, the furniture used in fast-casual restaurants doesn’t actually take into account the specific needs of this class of customers and is instead meant for either fast-food chains or full-service establishments. This chair design concept tries to break the mold by introducing a piece of furniture that caters specifically to fast-casual customers who need to hang their coats or keep their bags but can never find such a place with regular restaurant chairs.

Designer: Zhiyuan (Frank) Fang

Fast-food restaurant chairs are often made from plastic, designed to be cheap, easy to move around, and often uninspiring. Customers here are often in a hurry, anyway, so they don’t care so much for the things they’re carrying, presuming they’re even carrying some. Fine dining chairs, in sharp contrast, are elegant and a little more expensive in order to match the restaurant’s ambiance. They, too, don’t have convenient features for keeping your things, because restaurants often have available storage for those near the table or by the entrance. That leaves fast-casual diners to fend for their own most of the time, often resulting in awkward displays of jackets or even forgotten bags or purses.

The RACK Chair design was conceptualized with fast-casual restaurants specifically in mind. While the chair might find some uses in other diner types as well, the aesthetics, materials, and features truly shine in this middle-ground of the catering industry. It’s made from a variety of wooden materials, including birch, pine, walnut, and ash, giving it a bit of style and fine character. At the same time, however, the minimalist design and flat-pack-friendly construction are ideal for mass production and use.

The real distinctive parts of the RACK chair are the integrated coat hanger on the backrest and the storage tray under the seat. While it’s certainly possible to drape coats, jackets, and other clothing over the back of most chairs, they also have a tendency to slip off, sometimes unbeknownst to the owner. The tray offers a secure space to put in purses, document folios, and small bags for each reach, while also blocking unauthorized access from behind.

Some might downplay the impact that these two simple features can bring, but knowing that there will always be a place for your jacket, coat, bags, and things adds tremendous peace of mind and convenience. That in turn, will surely make the experience and location memorable, increasing the likelihood that you’ll be a repeat customer. After all, the last thing you need is to stress over your stuff when all you really want is to enjoy an affordable and delicious meal.

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Top 10 Chairs Designed To Function As The Ideal Seating Options For Your Home

We often underestimate the importance of a great chair. When in reality, we really shouldn’t. We spend the majority of our day sitting on chairs, whether we’re working in our home office, enjoying a meal, or simply sitting and reading a book for leisure! Hence, this piece of furniture needs to be not only comfortable but ergonomic and aesthetic as well. And we’ve curated a collection of chair designs that meet all these criteria! From a chair with scissor-like legs to a traditional outdoor chair with a makeover – these innovative chair designs are not only a boon to your back and help you maintain a healthy posture, but are also super comfy to sink into and will perfectly match the interiors of your modern homes.

1. The Peach Easy Chair

Created by Annabella Hevesi, the Peach Easy Chair is a visually interesting chair that features an innovative mechanical joint solution that allows the foam to be shaped in a totally new and refreshing manner!

Why is it noteworthy?

The joint enables the foam to be shaped without cutting or casting – the first method creates a lot of waste, and the second method is quite expensive. Instead, a new ‘tufting’ technique was employed to distort the foam and create the shell out of the chair.

What we like

  • Provides a mechanical connection between components, eliminating the need for glue

What we dislike

  • The chair offers a slouched posture, which may not be ergonomic for the user, especially for longer durations

2. The Net Lounge Chair

Designed by Raffaello Galiotto for Nardi, the Net Lounge Chair is designed to be a modern alternative to the traditional outdoor armchair. The chair is made using monochrome recyclable fiberglass polypropylene resins with UV additives.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Net Lounge features a deep round seat, with an interesting wave-like form that encloses your body and forms a comfortable envelope while you read, nap, or watch a pretty sunset.

What we like

  • Holds towel clips that allow you to keep your towel in place

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the chair are a bit boring and unassuming

3. Noho Move

Design studio Formway teamed up with the brand Noho to create the ergonomically sound dining chair called the Noho Move.

Why is it noteworthy?

Both the brands collaborated to create a chair that can support and facilitate hours of sitting. “Our brief was to bring ergonomic performance to the dining room — that isn’t really something anyone has done before,” said Formway design lead Paul Stevenson.

What we like

  • Designed to support a wide range of movements such as stretching, fidgeting, and shifting

What we dislike

  • There is no option for customization

4. UMI Armchair

The UMI Armchair is designed by Rotislav Sorokovoy for the Ukraine-based furniture design company WOO, and it could be easily mistaken for a sculpture.

Why is it noteworthy?

The large and chonky furniture piece has a soft sculptural aesthetic to it and is designed to allow the user to interact with it, much like children do. The shape and texture of the armchair have been designed to welcome and invite people in and encourage them to engage with it.

What we like

  • Desiged to help you relax, read, and meditate, allowing you to peacefully unwind after a long day at work

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming and bulky design

5. Grid Chair

This simple well-designed chair is called the Grid Chair by SUNRIU Design, and it incorporates a few thoughtful details that truly set it apart. It incorporates flat elements to create storage spaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

The aim behind the chair is to tackle the issue of accidentally knocking over your coffee, or a glass of water while sitting on a chair or couch. The Grid Chair is made up of four planks of wood arranged in an interesting grid-like manner. The various lines of the chair harmoniously work together to create a neat grid that creates extended flat surfaces on either side of the chair.

What we like

  • The extended surfaces serve as storage spaces to hold your coffee, books, and other knick-knacks

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming and bulky design
  • The wooden edges of the extended surfaces could hurt young children and babies

6. Havana Lounge Chair

Designed by LAB15 for the Danish brand Eilersen, this Havana lounge chair is a cozy and chonky seat inspired by the Cuban chairs of the Art Deco period.

Why is it noteworthy?

The comfy and super-rounded seat features a pebble-like pouffe in its center which forms the main body of the chair. The bulbous pouffe can be accentuated with single or double arms and an optional backrest. The Havana chair is built of organic shapes, giving it a rather cozy and cushy feel.

What we like

  • Upholstered in a large range of solid-colored, textured, or patterned fabrics or in leather

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming and bulky design, not suited for homes with space constraints

7. Nebula Lounge Wood Chair

Designed by Italian design studio E-ggs for furniture brand Miniforms, the Nebula lounge wood chair is a versatile and unique chair that is available in a choice of three different bases.

Why is it noteworthy?

Much like the aluminum base, the wooden base features a tilt-and-return mechanism that allows the chair to dynamically respond to shifting sittings positions, while also providing the warmth and subtleness of wood to the chair.

What we like

  • Optimum option for homes with a generous amount of space

What we dislike

  • Not recommended for homes with smaller real estate, as it may promote cramping issues

8. Kainchee

The name Kainchee is a unique one for a chair. Kainchee quite literally means scissors in the Hindi language. And if you look closely, you can understand why the designer dubbed his design Kainchee.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair does look like two pairs of scissors, from the bottom half at least. The star feature of the chair is its intertwining and geometrically intriguing form. A band of walnut wood forms the seat of the chair, while subtly interlocking with the ash wood to form the legs of the chair. The interlocking walnut and ash wood legs bring to mind the image of two scissors!

What we like

  • Unique design with utility + functionality
  • Invites users to have seats, and engage with others in a social setting, in turn enriching their social life

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept!

9. Sand Chair

The Sand Chair was designed by product designer and architect Koichi Futatsumata, and it was launched as a part of Tendo Makko’s Japanese Modern/80 Project celebrating the 80th anniversary of the furniture brand.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Sand Chair is the epitome of contemporary Japanese design, and it has a unique flexible build, that allows it to be converted into multiple seating options. It isn’t actually named after the sand found on beaches, it is named after the ‘sandwiched’ components that come together to create this harmonious chair.

What we like

  • Available in a variety of configurations – without backrests, armrests, or even bench versions

What we dislike

  • At first glance, it seems like a simple + basic chair

10. Big Chair

The Big Chair is designed to be a playful and amusing furniture design, that functions as a whimsical element in your home.

Why is it noteworthy?

It has an expansive and inviting seat that is intended for one person but can seat two people. The Big Chair was created by BNF founder Ben Newman, and he says that the over-the-top, and exaggerated elements of the chair are inspired by the ’80s maximalism and the Memphis design movement.

What we like

  • Quirky over-the-top elements that set it apart from traditional & mundane chairs

What we dislike

  • As its name signifies, it is a bulky + space-consuming design

The post Top 10 Chairs Designed To Function As The Ideal Seating Options For Your Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

This cute chair transforms waste into beauty using recycled plastic bottles

The use of plastic in products has almost become so second nature that we spare no thought about how the material affects the environment in the long run. After all, there are plenty of benefits to plastic, such as its resilience, durability, and affordability, that we easily lose sight of long-term disadvantages. Fortunately, there are also more people who have become aware of this situation nowadays, and they have started to either move away from plastic completely or at least incorporate recycled plastics as much as possible. This chair is one of the latter, and while that in itself isn’t exactly extraordinary, the play of contrasting elements creates a harmonious composition that makes it look not only interesting but also welcoming.

Designer: Xingcheng Zhu

“XOX” might sound like an odd name for a chair, especially since it’s synonymous with a simple yet popular paper-and-pencil game. You immediately see the connection, however, when you view it from an angle and notice the two wooden X’s flanking the half-spherical shape that forms the chair’s seat and backrest. The choice of the name may have been based on that visual, but it also represents the very essence of the chair as a combination of contrasting elements.

While the standard design of a chair involves flat surfaces for the seat and backrest, the XOX Chair employs a hollow sphere that has a portion of it chopped off, forming the cavity for a person to sit inside. This circular shape sits in between the long, tubular legs of the chair, spindly in contrast to the fuller mass of the seat itself. Although the legs are the more visible part of the chair, their simpler and thinner forms draw your eyes immediately to the seat instead.

The materials used also contrast and complement each other. The legs are made of wood, a natural material whose grains create minute yet beautiful imperfections that give each piece a unique character. The middle component, however, is made from recycled PET bottles, resulting in a synthetic perfection with almost no blemishes. The seat is also completely transparent, giving it an airy and ethereal imagery that contrasts nicely with the solid and earthy tones of the legs.

This balance of elements yields a design that is both pleasing to look at and comfortable to use. Although it lacks the traditional armrests that add some support and stability to the body, the open spherical shape evokes feelings of openness and spaciousness, as if enveloping the person in protection and warmth. Best of all, it is also a design that is aware of the impact that furniture has on the planet’s health, implementing a sustainable solution that doesn’t compromise aesthetics and functionality in the process.

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This Cozy Chonky Armchair Provides An Interactive & Playful Seating Experience

We often underestimate the importance of a great armchair, especially in our living rooms. When in reality, we shouldn’t. The right armchair not only serves as a comfy and ergonomic seating option but also adds a certain depth of character and personality to the living room. An excellent armchair functions as the perfect spot to lounge about, have a snack, and or chill while interacting with your family and friends. And, one such armchair that you should consider adding to your living space is the UMI Armchair by Rostislav Sorokovoy.

Designer: Rostislav Sorokovoy for Woo

Designed by Rostislav Sorokovoy for the Ukraine-based furniture design company Woo, the UMI Armchair could be easily mistaken for a sculpture! The large and chonky furniture piece has a soft sculptural aesthetic to it and is designed to allow the user to interact with it, much like children do. The shape and texture of the armchair have been designed to welcome and invite people in and encourage them to engage with it.

The UMI Armchair includes two cylinders that are joined to create an interesting horseshoe shape, which forms the seat and back of the armchair. The armchair is marked by four plumpy cylindrical legs that form a stable and sturdy base, providing users with a comfortable and cozy seating option with good ergonomics. The chair is built using a plywood frame, polyurethane foam, and textile upholstery. The UMI Armchair is designed to help you relax, read, and meditate, allowing you to peacefully unwind after a long day at work. You can place a pair of armchairs next to one another, forming a cozy pattern of seating structures that have a fascinating sculptural effect.

However, it is pretty evident that the UMI Armchair is a bulky and space-consuming design, so it isn’t a viable option for smaller homes with space constraints. But if you have a large home with the gift of space, then you can definitely incorporate this chunky and cushy furniture design in your home, probably even a pair of them or more! You can touch, interact, engage, and play around with the chairs for a fun and whimsical seating experience.

The post This Cozy Chonky Armchair Provides An Interactive & Playful Seating Experience first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 Chair Designs For Peak Comfort While Working, Eating, Or Relaxing

We often underestimate the importance of a great chair. When in reality, we really shouldn’t. We spend the majority of our day sitting on chairs, whether we’re working in our home office, enjoying a meal, or simply sitting and reading a book for leisure! Hence, this piece of furniture needs to be not only comfortable but ergonomic and aesthetic as well. And we’ve curated a collection of chair designs that meet all these criteria! From a chair with scissor-like legs to a leaf-inspired outdoor chair/sunbed  – these innovative chair designs are not only a boon to your back and help you maintain a healthy posture, but are also super comfy to sink into and will perfectly match the interiors of your modern homes.

1. The Peach Easy Chair

Created by Annabella Hevesi, the Peach Easy Chair is a visually interesting chair that features an innovative mechanical joint solution that allows the foam to be shaped in a totally new and refreshing manner!

Why is it noteworthy?

The joint enables the foam to be shaped without cutting or casting – the first method creates a lot of waste, and the second method is quite expensive. Instead, a new ‘tufting’ technique was employed to distort the foam and create the shell out of the chair.

What we like

  • Provides a mechanical connection between components, eliminating the need for glue

What we dislike

  • The chair offers a slouched posture, which may not be ergonomic for the user, especially for longer durations

2. The Grid Chair

This simple well-designed chair is called the Grid Chair by SUNRIU Design, and it incorporates a few thoughtful details that truly set it apart. It incorporates flat elements to create storage spaces.

Why is it noteworthy?

The aim behind the chair is to tackle the issue of accidentally knocking over your coffee, or a glass of water while sitting on a chair or couch. The Grid Chair is made up of four planks of wood arranged in an interesting grid-like manner. The various lines of the chair harmoniously work together to create a neat grid that creates extended flat surfaces on either side of the chair.

What we like

  • The extended surfaces serve as storage spaces to hold your coffee, books, and other knick-knacks

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming and bulky design
  • The wooden edges of the extended surfaces could hurt young children and babies

3. Kainchee

The name Kainchee is a unique one for a chair. Kainchee quite literally means scissors in the Hindi language. And if you look closely, you can understand why the designer dubbed his design Kainchee.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair does look like two pairs of scissors, from the bottom half at least. The star feature of the chair is its intertwining and geometrically intriguing form. A band of walnut wood forms the seat of the chair, while subtly interlocking with the ash wood to form the legs of the chair. The interlocking walnut and ash wood legs bring to mind the image of two scissors!

What we like

  • Unique design with utility + functionality
  • Invites users to have seats, and engage with others in a social setting, in turn enriching their social life

What we dislike

  • It’s a concept!

4.  The Sand Chair

The Sand Chair was designed by product designer and architect Koichi Futatsumata, and it was launched as a part of Tendo Makko’s Japanese Modern/80 Project celebrating the 80th anniversary of the furniture brand.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Sand Chair is the epitome of contemporary Japanese design, and it has a unique flexible build, that allows it to be converted into multiple seating options. It isn’t actually named after the sand found on beaches, it is named after the ‘sandwiched’ components that come together to create this harmonious chair.

What we like

  • Available in a variety of configurations – without backrests, armrests, or even bench versions

What we dislike

  • At first glance, it seems like a simple + basic chair

5. The Big Chair

The Big Chair is designed to be a playful and amusing furniture design, that functions as a whimsical element in your home.

Why is it noteworthy?

It has an expansive and inviting seat that is intended for one person but can seat two people. The Big Chair was created by BNF founder Ben Newman, and he says that the over-the-top, and exaggerated elements of the chair are inspired by the ’80s maximalism and the Memphis design movement.

What we like

  • Quirky over-the-top elements that set it apart from traditional & mundane chairs

What we dislike

  • As its name signifies, it is a bulky + space-consuming design

6.  The Tone Chair

The Tone Chair has an oh-so-simple form, and yet an extremely solid character. It is the result of the exploration of a simple metallic tube and bending process on the part of Filipic.

Why is it noteworthy?

Four tubes, and and two pieces of sheet metal were used to build the chair. The two pieces of sheet metal were used to form the seat and the backrest, while the four metallic tubes were utilized to construct the legs of the chair.

What we like

  •  A smooth and linear furniture design whose various components effortlessly merge together

What we dislike

  • The form of the chair can be considered too simple and stark for some
  • Doesn’t look comfortable to sit on for longer durations

7. Jumbo Lounge Chair

Designed by Finnish interior architect Olof Ottelin in 1958, the Jumbo Lounge Chair is a distinctive and iconic chair. The Finnish design house Fasetti reissued the Jumbo Lounge Chair, with the authentic essence of the chair being retained.

Why is it noteworthy?

A few interesting contemporary touches have been made, to give the chair a modern appeal. The height of the seat has been raised, although the original proportions of the chair have been untouched. The redwood was exchanged for native birch.

What we like

  • Modern + innovative reinterpretation of a classic Finnish furniture design
  • Available in various wood and fabric options

What we dislike

  • The design may be too old-school and traditional for some despite modern modifications

8. VALE Collection

LAYER recently designed the VALE collection for the US furniture brand KFI Studios. The collection includes a range of eco-friendly chairs and stool created from recycled PET bottles, as a protest against the plastic waste that is drowning the planet’s oceans and landfills at a frightening rate.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Vale collection is LAYER and KFI Studio’s eco-friendly solution to this ever-growing issue of plastic waste. In a day and age, where almost 9 million tons of furniture are found in landfills, the Vale collection is a refreshing change and a fine specimen of sustainable furniture.

What we like

  • Built using a tactile, eco-friendly & durable material manufactured from recycled PET bottles

What we dislike

  • The aesthetics of the chairs and stool are a bit mundane. More details could have been added to them

9. The Conicent Chair

The Conicent Chair takes the simple and humble cone shape and transforms it into an impressive and unique piece of furniture. The chair features a cone with the front half chopped off, with an innovative dropped top that seems to be caving in on itself.

Why is it noteworthy?

The chair features a smaller inverted cone inside that serves as the main surface for sitting. Adding a cushion makes it a comfortable indoor chair, though leaving it bare makes it suitable for outdoor use – making it a versatile chair that can be utilized both indoors and outdoors.

What we like

  •  Made to be comfortable and ergonomic, regardless of your preferred sitting position, thanks to gentle slopes and curves in every direction

What we dislike

  • Space-consuming + bulky design
  • Not a real tangible product

10. Orfo Lounge Chair and Sunbed

This unique and quirky-looking furniture design is called the Orfo lounge chair and sunbed, and it was designed by Miray Özlem ER by taking Mother Nature as the inspiration.

Why is it noteworthy?

If you look at the chair closely, it may remind you of a leaf or an exotic-looking plant. The woven pattern of the chair and its dusky green color were characteristics that Miray picked up from nature.

What we like

  • You can add multiple Orfo chairs to your yard, creating a super cool and chill spot for your family and close friends to hang about in the summer

What we dislike

  • The lack of legs makes it difficult to sit on the chair for longer periods of time

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