Here’s a great example of adapting furniture design to local manufacturing techniques. Let’s say you’ve got no access to foam and upholstery materials, but live in a bamboo-rich region populated by artisans who know how to work with it. Taiwan-based industrial designer Brian Chang designed this Mua-Lau Chair to suit:
Chang figured out how to beef up the capabilities of the light, springy material:
“The traditional bamboo weaving technique used in MUA-LAU CHAIR provides new possibilities for traditional craftsmanship to be applied in modern furniture design. However, the traditional technique alone is not strong enough to support the weight of a human body, so we had to make various material design adjustments such as thickness, length, and diameter to ensure sufficient strength.”
“In order to enhance the seating experience and accommodate the weight of a person, we incorporated a design inspired by the independent tube structure of a spring bed, using a double-layered bamboo tube design to create a new elastic cushion structure. This allows the seat to maintain the elasticity of bamboo while supporting a person’s weight, resulting in a unique and comfortable seating experience for MUA-LAU CHAIR.”
“By combining traditional crafts with modern industry, the chair combines the warmth of handcrafted works with the precision of mechanical manufacturing to express a modern Eastern style.”
