Design duo Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen works closely with furniture imprint Normann Copenhagen on a special collection of Mat chairs. These are made from plant-based materials and showcased at Stockholm Design Week. The capsule is comprised of two chairs -- one that is made from hemp and the second blends hemp with eelgrass, which is a marine plant.
The biomaterials were used to craft a shell chair which is supported by framing at the legs formed from powder-coated steel. The prototypes were first seen in 2005 but trials only kicked off in 2008 using hemp. Hiort-Lorenzen explains, "Now, some 20 years later, the hemp material we have developed in collaboration with Normann Copenhagen is more responsible, a lot sturdier, and with a higher aesthetic appeal than any of the previous prototypes. It's a one-of-its-kind product."
Hemp-Made Sustainable Chairs
Normann Copenhagen and Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen Launch the Mat Chairs
Trend Themes
1. Plant-based Materials - The use of plant-based materials in the production of furniture creates opportunities for sustainable and eco-friendly designs.
2. Biomaterial Innovation - The integration of hemp and eelgrass in the production of chairs showcases the potential for innovative biomaterials in the furniture industry.
3. Circular Design - The development of a shell chair using renewable materials highlights the growing trend towards circular design principles in furniture manufacturing.
Industry Implications
1. Furniture - The use of hemp and eelgrass as alternative materials in chair production presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the furniture industry.
2. Sustainability - The focus on plant-based materials and eco-friendly designs in furniture manufacturing has the potential to disrupt the sustainability industry.
3. Biomaterials - The collaboration between Normann Copenhagen and Foersom & Hiort-Lorenzen in creating chairs from innovative biomaterials presents a disruptive innovation opportunity in the biomaterials industry.