Humberto and Fernando Campana's 'Favela Chair' takes inspiration from the bootstrap industriousness of the neighborhoods to which the furnishing owes its name. Constructed out of small strips of low-cost pine that are mish-mashed together seemingly at random, the chair was designed near a favela in the Campana brothers' studio in Sao Paolo, Brazil.
In favelas, inhabitants build their homes from whatever resources they can scavenge -- rather than purchase. When building the first iteration of the chair, the Campanas took that methodology to heart and constructed their design using scraps of timber that had fallen off of the fruit stands near their studio.
Though the Favela Chair is for sitting, its scattered backing and seat bottom urge sitters to squirm and move, ultimately compelling them to get up and explore in the same way that favela dwellers do.
Creatively Cobbled Chairs
The 'Favela Chair' is Constructed with Asymmetrical Slats of Wood
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Furniture Design - The 'Favela Chair' demonstrates the potential for using low-cost, salvaged materials in furniture design, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
2. Empowering Local Communities - The Favela Chair highlights the resourcefulness and creativity of favela dwellers, presenting an opportunity for businesses to support and collaborate with local communities.
3. Interactive Seating Experiences - The scattered backing and seat bottom of the Favela Chair encourages movement and exploration, suggesting a trend towards interactive and dynamic seating designs.
Industry Implications
1. Interior Design - Interior design professionals can explore sustainable and community-focused approaches in their furniture designs, drawing inspiration from the Favela Chair.
2. Urban Development - The Favela Chair offers insights into the resourcefulness of urban communities, providing an opportunity for businesses in urban development to learn from and support these communities.
3. Furniture Manufacturing - Furniture manufacturers can explore the use of salvaged materials and innovative seating designs inspired by the Favela Chair to create unique and eco-friendly products.