Tag Archives: Furniture

Sustainable 3D printed chair needs no glue or screws to connect its pieces

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Flat-packed products like tables and chairs have definitely changed the furniture design landscape and altered consumers’ tastes. But while these designs do make it easy to store, transport, and sometimes assemble pieces of furniture, they often also end up being bland in the name of minimalism, not to mention tedious and cumbersome to repair or dispose of, despite the supposed ease of assembly. Thanks to new manufacturing techniques and technologies, especially 3D printing, there are now alternative methods and designs possible, including a beautiful chair that’s not only made from sustainable materials but is trivial to assemble and disassemble because it doesn’t even use screws or adhesives.

Designer: Eva Dugintseva

3D printing has definitely come a long way from the flimsy plastic materials that they started out with. We can now print objects using a variety of materials, including metal, chocolate, and soon, even wood. It’s even possible to use recycled PS (polystyrene) plastic, which helps reduce the negative impact of mass-produced plastic chairs. That alone already makes the Som Chair concept notable, but that isn’t the only trick it knows, not by a long shot.

Thanks to 3D printing, it was possible to experiment with and use shapes that would normally be costly to pull off on a mass production line. In this case, the chair is made from two separate bent shapes with ridged surfaces that make them look like dozens of plastic tubes stuck to one another. The main structure of the chair has a small gap for the smaller piece to slide into, forming the three legs of the chair. Instead of using glue or screws, this simple mechanism, along with physics, give the chair its stability.

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This means that the Som Chair isn’t just easy to assemble, it’s also easy to take apart if you need to move it or even dispose of it. It might be possible to break down and recycle the plastic to make other objects, making it a little bit more sustainable, despite being made of plastic. You can also mix and match designs or replace only parts that are broken, giving the design more longevity as well.

Granted, this design won’t be as flat as a flat-packed chair, but you can package two of these together in a single box. Being 3D printed, there’s also more leeway in possible designs, giving this asymmetrical Memphis Milano chair more personality than your common minimalist yet plain flat-packed variety.

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The Humble Origata Collection Is Inspired By The Fascinating Art Of Kimono Making

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A minimal and beautifully designed piece of furniture can truly make a room come full circle. It can be the final piece that completes a space, building a comfortable and cohesive haven, rather than a random area. Furniture pieces make or break a home, they add to the essence or soul of a home, hence one needs to be extremely picky while choosing a furniture design. The design should be a reflection of you, and what you want your home to be. When you place a piece of furniture in a room, it should instantly integrate with the space, creating a wholesome and organic environment. And, a minimal furniture collection that would be an amazing addition to your home is the Origata collection by Nao Tamura for Porro.

Designer: Nao Tamura for Porro

Designed by New York-based Japanese designer Nao Tamura, the Origata collection includes the Origata bench and console. They’re inspired by the intricate craft of Kimono making and were designed for the Italian furniture brand Porro. The furniture pieces are crafted from aluminum sheet material, which has been cut and assembled using techniques inspired by the art of kimono making, in which fabric is cut in straight lines, and then artfully sewn together.

This unique technique produces almost zero waste, which is why Tamura employed this clever process, since it maximizes material use, in turn boosting the production of his collection. Both the Origata bench and console feature the same essential shape – a sturdy geometric form that has a softness to it, owing to its cultural influences, and craft-related inspiration.

The beautiful pieces represent and showcase Porro and Tamura’s shared values which include cultural identity, internationality, and a genuine respect and admiration for materials. The various pieces make an excellent fit for entryways, waiting rooms, or even bedrooms. They are versatile furniture designs that can also be employed and placed in areas for work, writing, and meditation. Where would you want to place these pieces?

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Top 10 Sustainable Stools To Incorporate Eco-Friendly Furniture Designs In Your Home

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Stools are truly the way to go in today’s world! Stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable, and if you make them sustainable, well they’re everything you could need. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a minimal stackable stool with slim wooden legs to a stool made from recycled bike parts – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. Drum Stool

Dubbed the Drum Stool, this stackable, minimal, and sustainable stool looks like a cute little wine cork when you first look at it. But as you dig and look deeper, you realize the stool has quite a lot to offer. The sustainable stool is made using cork and wood, creating a sturdy and durable seating design that is truly eco-friendly, and also quite aesthetic to look at.

Why is it noteworthy?

Cork and wood were selected to build the wood, rating it pretty high on sustainability. The seat was built using cork, while wood was used to build the legs, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly seating solution, that will integrate well with modern contemporary homes.

What we like

  • Equipped with a round trimmed surface that gives it a fun and playful shape
  • Functions as a cohesive and harmonious furniture piece

What we dislike

  • The trimmed cork seat doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for longer durations of time

2. The 2 Stools from 1 Bicycle

The 2 Stools from 1 Bicycle project upcycled old bikes to create new stools. They create a product that can be easily used by everyone, and won’t be easily thrown away by people. The stools feature unique and noteworthy aesthetics, that will add some personality and charm to your living space, and you won’t feel like giving them away at all.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stools feature slanted legs which offer it a usual and unique shape, which brings to mind the image of the original bike frames they were taken from. One stool is equipped with three legs, while the other has four legs. The seat is crafted from recyclable cork, which isn’t from the bike, it does maintain the stool’s sustainable personality.

What we like

  • Unusual and unique aesthetics

What we dislike

  • The stools don’t look too comfy to sit on for long periods

3. The +52 Stool

Studio Plastique conducted extensive and deep research on the current timber designs in the market and their manufacturing. They then utilized all their knowledge to build a unique and sustainable wooden step stool called the +52 Stool. The +52 stool isn’t just a typical furniture design and is created to be a scenario.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool captures and showcases the potential of the undervalued wood types, and how they can be used as sustainable alternatives to the typically-used wood types. The stool is manufactured using non-commercial woods such as koto, willow, elm, acacia, and birch.

What we like

  • The stool is created to address the lack of awareness regarding lesser-known wood species

What we dislike

  • The look of the stool is pretty rustic and raw, which won’t be preferred by everyone

4. Superpop Tables

These colorful little stools/tables are called the Superop tables, and they have mesmerizing terrazzo-like surfaces that have been crafted from recycled plastic. The Superpop tables are designed by Paolo Cappello for Miniforms, and they function as attractive little furniture pieces, that add a much-needed pop of color and character to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Superpop tables are quite versatile, and they can be utilized as side tables, stools, or even coffee tables. They are versatile, lightweight, and sustainable furniture pieces with a pop of fun!

What we like

  • Feature versatile functionality with a universal appeal

What we dislike

  • Since they’re so colorful and eccentric, could be difficult to match them with different interior styles

5. Plastic Translation Stool

Named the Plastic Translation Stool, this interesting stool design recreates a plastic form, building a form that is familiar and yet unique. This enables the unique wooden stool to possess a character of its own, adding some wooden minimalism and subtlety to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

Since the wooden legs won’t offer the same stability as the plastic bits, another element – the Birch plywood buttresses is added to the stool. It evens out some of the force across the beechwood legs, allowing the buttresses to be held together. This increases architectural stability, as well as visual amplification.

What we like

  • The stool doesn’t need screws or nails to be assembled
  • Features a fun puzzle-like design

What we dislike

  • Options to customize the stool are currently missing

6. Stump Recycled Stool

Derlot designed the original Stump stool sometime ago, and now they’ve unveiled the new Stump Recycled stool which has the same structure of the OG Stump stool, but it is interesting built from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic LPDE. The Stump Recycled stool is quite colorful and visually intriguing to look at, which adds extra brownie points besides its sustainability.

Why is it noteworthy?

The new Stump stool features a different design, as the patterns form a terrazzo-like design that offers the stool a textured and colored look. You can pick stools with a kaleidoscope-like finish, which provides a fresh interpretation of how recycled materials can be used to elevate a design.

What we like

  • Offers a new and fresh take on how recycled materials can be utilized

What we dislike

  • The stool is quite small and doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long

7. Tie Stool

Dubbed the Tie Stool, this stunning stool is made from three bent pieces of plywood that effortlessly lock into one another, creating a unique tripod form that is quite comfy to sit on. It is a simple stool made using minimal materials making the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three plywood strips can be split into 6 total parts, forming individual parts that are built using high pressure, causing the plywood to bend and retain its shape. The cutting processes are performed on the parts allowing them to interlock into one another.

What we like

  • Flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • Features a stackable form

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

8. TAKEoSEAT

Meet the TAKEoSEAT – a folding stool unlike any other. Designed by KRETHO, this portable stool allows you to simply pick it up, and move around as you please. You don’t need to rearrange furniture or sweat over a particularly heavy chair. It flattens down to a large portfolio and looks like a stylish bag made of felt.

Why is noteworthy?

The TAKEoSEAT is made from PET felt, and this felt is derived from plastic bottles that we often use and throw away without giving a second thought about where they may end up. They are put through a special process, to create material that is familiar to touch, but also strong and sturdy.

What we like

  • The stool is crafted from PET-felt
  • Has an easy-to-carry and portable form

What we dislike

  • Folding designs are quite common these days, so not much to set the stool apart

9. Cork Stool Concept

Made from cork, this minimalist stool concept is designed to offer you a sustainable seating solution, that reduces waste by converting two stools into one single bench, and then back again, as and when needed. It is like an “unknown” stool design, but it features a modular nature which leaves it interestingly open to interpretation and implementation.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design has a core element of a sturdy column of cork, which functions as a single cylinder, and forms the center of the stool. However, a smaller circle connects it to the removable seat with a hole in its center. It functions as a simple system that doesn’t need any extra parts or screws.

What we like

  • The seats can be changed or replaced without throwing away the cork

What we dislike

  • The bench variant will occupy substantial space in your home

10. Vale Collection

Named the VALE collection, this range of eco-friendly chairs and stools by Layer was designed for the US furniture brand KFI Studios. The furniture is made from recycled PET bottles and was created to protest against the plastic waste that often drowns and pollutes the oceans and landfills.

Why is it noteworthy?

The innovative collection is designed to be an eco-friendly and sustainable solution to the rising issue of plastic waste. The furniture is a refreshing change and an excellent specimen of sustainable furniture, in today’s world when 9 million tons of furniture are thrown in landfills.

What we like

  • The furniture is made using a material derived from recycled PET bottles. The material is durable and eco-friendly

What we dislike

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

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The Vank Cube Is A Modular & Flexible Furniture System For Spaces That Require Adaptability

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Called the Vank Cube, this modular furniture system was developed by the Polish brand Vank. The furniture system includes intriguing “building blocks” which are made from flax and hemp fibers. Designed by Vank’s creative director Anna Vonhausen, the Vank Cube can be combined and merged to fulfill a bunch of purposes, such as functioning as storage, space dividers, or even as base tables and desks. It is the kind of innovative and modern furniture solution we need in our homes, one which is sustainable, and has versatile functionality.

Designer: Vank

The various blocks feature a natural color palette, which is because they’ve been crafted from flax and hemp fibers. Vank says that the material choices are perfect for clients who want a minimalist or Japandi aesthetic, something that is subtle and clean, and yet functional. The aesthetic and appeal of the collection allow it to artfully merge with any space, it has a neutral vibe that seamlessly complements different rooms. This system is designed for interior spaces that need a lot of adaptability and versatility, such as cafes, schools, event venues, and offices.

The Vank Cube system utilizes reversible connectors and fasteners which allows for easy modification in “only a few moments”, according to the company. This allows users to customize and change the furniture system as and when needed, enabling them to create a space that perfectly suits their needs and requirements.

The system also includes certain optional add-on elements which support customization. These elements include an upholstered seat cushion, side panels built from biomaterial, and lightweight tops crafted from plywood. These can be finished in oak veneer or with different color coatings. If you’re seeking a well-designed and sustainable furniture solution, then the Vank Cube is the one for you. It is a flexible and modular furniture system that is designed to meet your modern-day requirements, whether they’re in an office, venue, or even your own home.

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Modular cork stool concept offers sustainable seating by turning into a bench

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Sitting is an important part of our daily lives, so it’s not unusual to see different kinds of seating furniture around places where people stay or pass through. Unfortunately, it’s hard to predict when you’d need a single chair or a multi-person bench, so spaces tend to either put multiple chairs together or have a few benches and force people to sit together. That strategy does work, at least until the situation changes and you need to change seats, which often means buying new seats and discarding the old ones. This minimalist stool concept tries to offer a more sustainable solution that helps reduce waste by turning two stools into a single bench and back again, depending on the need.

Designers: Erika Avery, Stu Cole

The requirements for a stool, chair, or bench are pretty simple. At the very least, it needs to be stable enough to support the weight of a human person sitting on it without toppling over or collapsing. Comfort is, of course, ideal, but some designs seem to forego that in exchange for other capabilities. It’s arguable that the “unknown” stool concept is one of these designs, though its modular nature leaves that open to interpretation and implementation.

The core element of this concept is the sturdy column made of cork, a sustainable and easily acquired material. It’s a single cylinder that makes up the center of the stool, but its secret lies in a smaller circle that connects to a removable seat with a hole in its center. It’s a simple system that requires no screws, extra parts, or complex mechanisms, which means maintenance, repair, and replacement will be just as simple as well.

That seat can, in theory, be anything, though the simple shapes of a square and a circle immediately come to mind. However, that doesn’t limit it to a single symmetrical shape either, since you can have a long rectangular seat with holes on each end, forming a bench when set on top of two cork columns. In fact, the design of the actual furniture is determined by the shape of that removable seat, and it can be as simple or as complex as needed.

The concept doesn’t exactly define what the seat has to be made of, so it can use wood, metal, plastic, or any other material. It can be bare or it can have some cushioning or upholstery to add a bit of comfort. More importantly, the seats can be changed, repaired, or replaced without throwing away the cork core, or vice versa. It’s a simple yet effective design that limits the waste of fixed chairs and stools while leaving the door open for combinations that deliver what’s needed at any given time.

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Dog Hut Desk puts a dog bed within the ‘d’ of your work desk

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Modern homes are fancy and well-decorated! We take all the care to ensure our homes are furnished to the T, and this involves furniture we choose for our pets. However, not all apartments have space to accommodate additional furniture for our pooches, or for that matter, some parents – me included – want their pal to be just by their side at all times.

This demand owing to space constraints and over affection has given birth to pet furniture that is usable by both people and their pets simultaneously. It makes living with pets enjoyable and engaging and sparks an emotional connection between the two. A case in point is the Dog Hut Desk, which puts a dog bed within the ‘d’ of your work desk.

Designer: Liam de la Bedoyere

Designed as a new nap spot for a dog, the wooden desk has a metal U leg on one side and the small letter D-style bed for the dog as the support leg on the opposite side. With the dog by your side – napping in comfort – as you work, you can give yourself the peace of mind and the furry friend the ultimate comfort of a cozy space tailored for their slumber.

The interesting design allows provision for a cushiony mattress to fit within that the dog will love and would create a comfy space for it to sleep and relax. Presented as a desk that is perfect for you and your dog companion, it is the designer’s second iteration of the pet and human-friendly furniture after the cat-compatible desk.

The Dog Hut Desk with space for man’s best friend when working from home is a good idea if you have an obedient pet, but if your little pal is rowdy or a distraction from your focus, having it right under your eye may not be the best for your work routine. So, choosing this desk will come with its own user pros and cons. Think hard!

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Smart crib concept monitors if the baby wets the bed so parents won’t have to

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Having a baby can be a very magical moment, but even the best, most patient, and kindest parents will struggle with some of the aspects of raising an infant. They need constant monitoring, even late at night when even adults should be resting. One of the most problematic things to watch out for is when the baby wets the bed, because it can happen any time, day or night, and even when parents are not paying attention. It might already be too late when the infant cries after having spent long minutes wearing or lying on something wet, which then could bring skin complications and other problems. It’s for that reason that this crib concept was designed, offering a more efficient way to monitor the baby by employing the very same technologies used to monitor plants and their soil’s wetness.

Designers: Anuj Pate, Piyusha Naik

Soil moisture, or the volume of water content in the soil, isn’t exactly the same as determining when a baby wet the bed, but the technology works the same for both cases. The sensor is only able to measure water content indirectly by taking into account other factors like electrical resistance, dielectric constant, and the like. Fortunately, this is enough to also detect if the mattress of a crib is now wet, which is the critical component of the Wee Watch Crib Concept.

In a nutshell, the crib uses copper coils attached to the mattress to implement the moisture detection hardware, since copper is considered to be harmless for the baby in this context. The sensors can sense the wetness of the bed and immediately fire off a notification to parents or caretakers, either audibly or through a phone app. It’s a much more efficient way compared to constantly watching the baby, which is tiring, or waiting for the baby to cry, which could be too late for the infant’s comfort and health.

Of course, the baby crib also has to be comfortable, not just functional, and the Wee Watch design opts to use natural cotton fibers for the mattress as it is gentler on the baby’s skin. The frame is made from laminated timber that’s put together using a moisture-resistant adhesive, and there are tall vents at the bottom to facilitate airflow and regulate temperature. More importantly, the crib is also made to still be useful as the baby grows, about up to two years as long as they still comfortably fit in that space.

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Razer Cthulhu gaming chair is something you might wish wasn’t just a joke

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Forget about those invisible and impersonal AIs that are supposed to help you at work by composing e-mails, generating images, or even drafting a whole document for you. What you really need is an AI that will take care of your bodily needs while using the computer, whether it’s for crunch time in the office or, more likely, grinding experience points in games. At least that’s the foundation of Razer’s latest genius gaming accessory, a chair that knows your needs and literally gives you a hand, or a claw rather, so you don’t have to stand up for a bite or a drink or even a shave. Yes, this mythical chair is obviously an April Fool’s joke, but it’s an idea that could very well foreshadow the future that is both exciting and terrifying as its name suggests.

Designer: Razer

Named after the eldritch god but looking more like a Doctor Octopus arsenal, the Razer Cthulhu is a gaming chair that literally has a mind of its own, in addition to its six flexible tentacle-like arms each with a three-finger claw for the hand. The idea is pretty simple, really, and is exactly what it looks like. Just like the robotic appendages of the comic book villain, these arms act as an extension of the user’s own arms, performing extra work that frees up the person to do what they enjoy and do best: play a game.

What this “work” entails really depends on what the chair’s AI would learn from your habits and needs. It could be as simple as holding your drink or assisting you with eating, or it could be as complicated as giving you a massage or even shaving your facial hair. At some point, it could even start playing your game for you, allowing you to play a second game on a different device, like a phone or handheld console, without missing a beat.

Of course, it’s literally impossible to accomplish all these today even with the most advanced AI, especially actions that require precision and dexterity. You could even say it’s a tongue-in-cheek commentary on how we’re becoming too dependent on AI, putting our eggs, and our livelihood, all in one basket. That’s not to say it’s not a tempting idea for the future, at least within moderation. With human life and work becoming more complex, it’s not surprising that people will start wanting to offload some of the more mundane tasks to robots and AI.

Computer chairs are becoming more sophisticated, offering features that span ergonomics and convenience from different angles. There are even some that are like a whole encapsulated space for gaming and entertainment, so a chair with AI features won’t be that far from reality. We can only hope that designs will be more on the conservative and reasonable side rather than outfitting the chair with everything, including a kitchen sink, that would make use feel less human and more like cogs in a machine instead.

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Deflated balloon chair is an interesting piece of furniture

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One of the most comfortable places that I like to lounge in when I’m just reading or scrolling through my mobile device is a bean bag. Sometimes however, because it’s too comfortable or too deflated, I tend to just sink into it without concern for my posture or my position. That’s not always a bad thing of course especially if I’m just relaxing. But sometimes I need to work on something or I should be more mindful of how I sit and the design of most bean bags aren’t conducive for that.

Designer: Andrea Casagrande

This design for a bean bag-like chair called Balloon seems to both be comfortable and ergonomic in a sense that it supports your body. The main concept for it is also pretty interesting as it resembles a deflated balloon. The seat being the main balloon part only deflated and the back part that supports your back, arms, and head representing the bottom part of the balloon including the stem and knot, but again, it’s deflated.

The fabric upholstery used in the chair also replicates the texture of a balloon but hopefully it’s not as slippery as most balloons. It is also lightweight enough that you can easily drag it to different parts of the room unlike with regular bean bags or even regular chairs that can sometimes be too heavy. It comes in different pastel colors as well including blue, pink, green, and orange. They want you to have the sense of “floating” but also it is capable of holding you upright if you need to be.

If no one’s sitting in the Balloon chair, it may look like a ghost that’s sitting on the floor so if you’re a scaredy cat and it’s dark, then it can give you a fright. But it’s an interesting shape for a chair and can be a conversational piece in your living space.

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Whimsical Moose-shaped cabinet adds a touch of delightful quirk to your interior space

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If Radhika Dhumal’s beetle-inspired table captivated your heart then this multifunctional cabinet modeled on the form of a moose is sure to catch your fancy. A winner of the A’ Design Award last year, this little whimsical wonder from Priyam Doshi adds a touch of playfulness to your interior decor while giving you functional storage. The cabinet adopts the rough silhouette of a moose, with broad legs, a squarish face, and even horns that serve well as jewelry hangers.

Designer: Priyam Doshi

Handmade from Oakwood with a water-based matte finish, the Moose cabinet has four distinct storage areas – the two legs, the body, and the face. The legs offer open storage for statement pieces and other memorabilia, while the body and face have their own doors to help store other items that you’d necessarily want to keep away from snooping neighbors – your jewelry or your fancy alcohol collection, perhaps. Points for noticing that the handle on the face door is, in fact the moose’s eye!

The tabletop surface above the moose comes outfitted with a variety of trays to store other tchotchkes and bric-a-brac from watches and loose change to perhaps even your AirPods, wallet, EDC. The moose’s tail has a built-in mirror, which is a nice quirky touch, while the horns themselves serve as perfect hangers for tiny purses, keys, or even a hat.

“The inspiration was to add fun to the boring mundane lifestyles and objects around you. The Moose Cabinet is a handcrafted statement piece inspired by the animal, Moose and is designed to be a FUNctional piece – FUN yet highly functional,” says designer Priyam Doshi. “Also in today’s times, with people’s lifestyles becoming more demanding & people looking at efficient uses of living spaces there is a need to have multifunctionality in the new products we are designing. So Plug and play accessories were added for the users.”

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