12 of the most unusual materials for the manufacture of furniture in projects of world designers

The interest of designers in unusual raw materials for furniture production is closely connected with the current “Conscious Consumption” trend. It seems that there is nothing impossible for modern furniture workers, and they are ready to work with the most unexpected and unusual materials. Collected several examples.

Revised paper

The designers have looked at her for a long time, assigning great hopes to this recyclable. On almost every international Biennale, you can find a stand with an exposition made of processed paper. A designer from Holland Wu Jai Lee declared himself a collection of furniture from crushed and glued paper. Externally compressed paper blocks resemble noble marble.

Each of the resulting brick, like a tree, is easy to cut, drill and gluing. Horizontally located blocks form countertops, and bricks located at their ends provide support. In the future, the designer plans to produce wall panels and interior partitions from processed paper.

The colleague of Wu from Belgium Jens Praet created tables, cabinets and benches from chopped glossy paper. At first, the designer mixed paper chips with resin, and polished the frozen mass, receiving an unusual, motley surface. On average, 11-12 kg of paper was required for large pieces of furniture.

The Dutchman Nink Hoogvlit as a raw material for his collection of furniture, lamps and household utensils chose processed toilet paper. In his opinion, she has “great value.” Instead of the usual burning, it can be collected with a small sieve, cleaned and processed into material suitable for the production of furniture and interior items.

Vulcanic lava

This unusual in the furniture industry was decided to test the designers from Italy Andrea Trimarchi and Simon Farresin. The lava remaining after the eruption of the Etna volcano in 2013, the designers melted, cooled, pressed and chopped. They mixed the resulting chips with glass, brass and wood. As a result of their creations, they repeatedly became stars of international exhibitions.

Designers of the famous French Automobile Concern PEUGEOT were also inspired by the products of the volcano and created the unique three -meter Sofu “The Onyx”. Within 70 days, the masters processed volcanic lava, frozen more than 11,000 years ago. Carbon and wood were used as additional materials. To emphasize the natural beauty of the natural lava, on the side of the couch left an unprocessed section of the breed.

The “volcanic” furniture include collections from basalt – a natural rock formed after the spilled maga. It is beneficial from this durable and durable material to produce furniture for the street and public areas. Today, many furniture industries are working with volcanic stone. One of the pioneers of the direction was the Latvian designer Raymonds Tsirulis.

The insides of animals

In an effort to reveal the “internal value” of the waste of animal origin, the German designer Tobias Trumenbacher used the urinary bubbles of pigs and the intestines of cows for the manufacture of chairs. Generally recognized waste and “repulsive” materials were turned into aesthetic and functional objects of the interior.

Having thoroughly washing and cleansing the insides of animals with vinegar, the designer for several weeks kept them in the sulfate of aluminum-kaly and chromium. During this time, protein fibers of the skin are fastened with each other and harden. Then the material is treated with industrial oil, soap and fat, kneaded and stretched. The result is a waterproof, durable and durable material for the production of furniture.

Eggshell

Can such a fragile egg shell become the basis for real furniture? A designer from Germany Sebastian Aumer decided to check this and made colorful, comfortable EGGO stools, consisting of 70% of the eggshell. Having collected the kilograms of eco -materials from local bakers, the designer chopped it into powder and mixed it with vinegar, starch and casein. The legs of stools were made of natural wood.

Cake sugarcane

After the processing of 10 tons of sugarcane, about 3 tons of cinema remains, which is most often disposed of without much benefit. Taiwanese students Chen Wei-cha and Jong Yo-Sin, inspired by the creation of an unusual Zhmysh furniture collection, drew attention to this. This easily accessible natural invoice using a simple technology has turned into durable material with a soft and attractive texture.

To begin with, the cake is crushed and dried, then add a special adhesive composition, getting a kind of dough. It is applied in several layers on a solid base according to the principle of papier-mash and dried until the desired shape is obtained.

Sand

American designer and sculptor Fernando Mastrajelo has been experimenting with unusual materials for more than 10 years. At the next international exhibition in New York, the author presented his new Drift collection, inspired by the glaciers of Patagonia. It included products from cast sand, painted in a blue tint and resembling natural ice rocks.

The bark of exotic trees

In the late 70s of the twentieth century, the Italian designer Carlo Pessina first visited Bali and fell in love with this paradise island. He was especially carried away by the natural materials of the local flora, from which he began to create expressive ethnic furniture. Among the most spectacular and exotic creations are collections of objects from coconut shell, wood bark, pebbles, mother of pearl and shells.

Needles

Dutch Tamara Orzhola makes furniture and textiles from the “forest wool” – as the designer calls the needle. A large amount of it is thrown out in the production of lumber. Pine needles first grind, soak, steam and pressed, turning into textiles, paper or composite. This technology allows you to produce valuable essential oils and dyes from needles.

Flax and bioplastics

Two Dutch Design Awards 2016 immediately received designer Christien Meinders for a Flax chair. It is made of biodegradable linen fibers, polymolic acid and bioplasty obtained from sugarcane, or corn starch. The designer studied the possibilities of flax for several years and called him “precious, high -quality and very aesthetic material.”

Crystals

The Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka came up with the idea – to “grow” furniture from crystals. He carried it out with the help of porous material treated with a special solution. The highlight of his project “Crystalized” is the Venus armchair (Venus). In addition to the furniture from crystals, the designer manages to “grow” lamps, flowers and artillery facilities.

Burned traffic jam

The Burnt Cork collection of the Frenchman Noah Dushofura Lorance included tables and chairs from a burned traffic jam. In this waste material, the designer sees personality personification. Noe mixed and glued cork granules with a 16-hour cooking and six-week drying. Thanks to the use of granules of different sizes when they are painted, the designer achieved the expressive effect of the gradient.

Cellulose sponge

At the Milan Design Week 2024, designers from the University of Lausanne Ecal presented lightweight and laconic furniture from biodegradable cellulose sponge. The purpose of the experiment is to detect materials with three criteria: compressibility, organic and comfort for sitting.

Initially, the objects of the collection look compressed and compact. But after immersion in water, they expand and transform into functional, durable tables and chairs. The idea of ​​furniture with a mobile shape was inspired by the polyurethane chair UP5 Gaetano Peshe.