The Tatami lounge chair
This low lounge chair, inspired by Japanese tatami lounge chairs, combines womens’ craft skills with the Danish string furniture tradition. Basket weaving has often been associated with women, as a women's craft in many cultures around the world and throughout the history. By using these old traditions as a new art form this design takes advantage of womens’ knowledge. The combination of organic, biodegradable hemp string and a flexible, scrap metal construction makes the chair both sustainable and comfortable to sit in.
Process
The goal with this project was to design a chair with working methods that support people, craft traditions and the environment. CSR (corporate social responsibility) was the main focus and as a part of that the impact on people, the planet and profit. According to UNIFEM (United Nations development fund for women) estimates, women represent 70 percent of the world’s poor. They are often paid less than men for their work, with the average wage gap in 2008 being 17 percent. The design of this chair is based on womens’ weaving skills in combination with the Danish string chair tradition. By using womens’ knowledge they can compete with their skills more effectively in the global marketplace. The string material is important from a sustainable point of view. Hemp is one of the fastest growing biomasses known and, once used, it can be disposed of in any natural environment and decompose into the soil, providing food and nutrition without affecting the environment. Therefore hemp was chosen as string material. The combination of the strong hemp string and the flexible construction gives a comfortable sitting experience. A seat cushion is added for a more inviting look. The result of the project is a sustainable and socially responsible design made by women.