Cardboard furniture
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cardboard furniture is furniture designed to be made from cardboard, or heavy wood-based types of paper.
Although people have lived on and around cardboard for as long as it has existed, it was probably first introduced to the design world by Frank Gehry (b. 1929). The line, which is still made and sold by Vitra, consists of modern chairs, tables. Made with hidden screws and fiberboard edging, the tables are said to hold thousands of pounds. The "Wiggle Chair," which has won many design awards and has been included in museum shows at London's [Design Museum][1] and elsewhere, contains 60 layers of corrugated cardboard held together by hidden screws and fibreboard edging.
At the turn of the millenium, cardboard is again becoming a trend.
In 2005, art director and designer Cathy Henszey partnered with the CEO of Print Icon, Vahid Pourkay, to begin Cardboardesign for recycled cardboard furnishings. The tables and shelving are modern in their aesthetic and surprisingly strong, due to the unique honeycomb cell shape of cardboard which bears more weight. Unlike Gehry's pieces, they contain no screws or fiberboard.
Approximately 200 pieces of cardboard furniture was created in 2006 for the Singapore Biennale. The set of chair and table were designed by Nathan Choe and Robin Wau exclusively for the Biennale. This furniture was created with an original process of repeadedly gluing sheets of cardboard which had been cut to the profile of the chair and table. It was then decoratively taped to match with the Biennale branding. It was used heavily on one night for the Singapore Biennale opening party, after which it was exhibited at various Biennale sites across Singapore. Famous people to have used this furniture include Lee Hsien Loong, and various Singaporean Ministers of Parliment. This furniture design proved to be very comfortable and durable, and was exhibited for several months outdoors in the heat and humidity of Singapore without adverse effects.
