ÉCAL's Sponge Furniture Expands 10 Times in Size After Soaking
Laura McQuarrie — April 25, 2024 — Art & Design
References: dezeen
At Milan Design Week 2024, researchers from Swiss design school ÉCAL presented a collection of sponge furniture that expands to 10 times its size after being soaked in water. The Under Pressure Solutions, or UPS, collection is aptly named thanks to compressed sheets of cellulose sponge that can fit within flat parcels for letterbox delivery.
The shipping-friendly furniture designs are made from wood offcuts and gets its strong, resilient qualities from the same fibres that reinforce tree trunks and branches. "Cellulose is a part of nature so, like a tree, it can be flexible and strong at the same time," ÉCAL researcher and industrial designer Christophe Guberan told Dezeen.
Thanks to its unique composition, the grow-at-home stools, shelves and tables can be cut to customize, re-wet to smooth out dents and imperfections, compressed for moving, and recycled or backyard composted at the end of their usable lives.
The shipping-friendly furniture designs are made from wood offcuts and gets its strong, resilient qualities from the same fibres that reinforce tree trunks and branches. "Cellulose is a part of nature so, like a tree, it can be flexible and strong at the same time," ÉCAL researcher and industrial designer Christophe Guberan told Dezeen.
Thanks to its unique composition, the grow-at-home stools, shelves and tables can be cut to customize, re-wet to smooth out dents and imperfections, compressed for moving, and recycled or backyard composted at the end of their usable lives.
Trend Themes
1. Expandable Sponge Furniture - Revolutionizing furniture design with expandable sponge materials that transform in water.
2. Shipping-friendly Designs - Innovating furniture packaging by creating shipping-friendly designs that can fit in flat parcels.
3. Customizable Eco-friendly Furniture - Pioneering eco-friendly furniture options that can be cut, re-wet, and composted for sustainable living solutions.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture Manufacturing - Exploring new materials and techniques for creating innovative furniture pieces with enhanced functionality.
2. Eco-friendly Packaging - Transforming the packaging industry with sustainable, flat-pack solutions for shipping furniture products efficiently and conveniently.
3. Home Decor and Interior Design - Reimagining interior design possibilities with customizable furniture that adapts to consumer preferences and sustainability goals.
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