The typical armchair comprises quite a hefty amount of polyurethane foam to offer its sitter sufficient comfort. Interestingly, this volume of material is greatly reduced in the Membrane Chair, made possible by a form-fitting suspended structure.
The frame of Benjamin Hubert's piece is made from aluminum and steel, forming the irregularly shaped base and upper rim and spacing the two of them out with several vertical ribs. The skeleton is then fitted with a very stretchy fabric of 3D-woven mesh.
The netted cover is stitched to the Classicon recliner so tightly that the cloth slumps only slightly under the weight of the sitter. Amazingly, the Membrane Chair weighs just 3 kilograms, thanks to its efficient composition and a cozy seat that's embedded with just a few thin pads.
Lightweight Meshy Loungers
The Membrane Chair Embodies a Reductive Structure with Stretchy Textile
Trend Themes
1. Lightweight Furniture - Opportunity for creating furniture designs that prioritize minimal material usage without compromising comfort or functionality.
2. 3d-woven Mesh - Opportunity for developing new textile technologies that utilize 3D-woven mesh for lightweight and form-fitting furniture designs.
3. Efficient Composition - Opportunity for optimizing the composition and structure of furniture to reduce weight and material usage while maintaining comfort and durability.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - Opportunity for furniture manufacturers to embrace lightweight materials and innovative designs to meet the demand for minimalistic, space-saving furniture solutions.
2. Textile Industry - Opportunity for textile manufacturers to develop and produce 3D-woven mesh fabrics tailored for the furniture industry, offering lightweight and form-fitting options.
3. Product Design - Opportunity for product designers to explore and implement efficient compositions and structures in furniture design, creating sustainable and lightweight solutions.