The Loom Chair is a lounger that uses slotted and linked cardboard to create a hammock-like seat that allows you to curl up in.

Concept

This chair utilizes cardboard’s ability to create unique cushioning in the form of links. These links being recycled also gives the user the ability to personalize their chair by adding their own scraps of cardboard to create even more cushioning.

The Loom Chair was created with the average uncomfortable dorm furniture in mind, as this chair will serve as a more relaxing and sustainable option.

• Relevance & Desirable: Replacing cheap and uncomfortable plastic dorm furniture.
• Economical & Sustainable: Recycled cardboard used for links.
• Materiality & Ergonomics: Test the limits of how comfortable cardboard can be.
• Shippable & Structure: Slotted together, easily disassembled.
• Compact & Multifunction: Lounger that is able to fit in smaller spaces.

Precedent: Hammock

I was able to study what makes the structure of a hammock strong enough to support a person’s weight and the way it works in tension. Additionally, the weaving of the hammock itself is similar to the way that I wanted the user to be able to sink into the Loom Chair.

Precedent: El Anatsui

El Anatsui uses simple materials to create complex quilt-like sculptures commenting on socio-political issues, every time a piece is moved to a new gallery the user is able to reorient it and hang it in a different way.

I realized that El Anatsui’s work is similar to the way that upon assembly the user of the Loom Chair will have the opportunity to orient the links in whatever way they see fit, and because the links are recycled every single chair will be unique.

Process

Throughout my process, I was experimenting with different ways to create a link system that lead to an interlocking link system. In an attempt to use these links in tension I utilized 27″ cardboard tubes to attach the blanket-like link system to base of chair. The base of the chair required a strength and stability that an egg crate structure would provide. Therefore, I experimented with a slotting system that evolved from single slotting, which created issues with shearing, to double slotting, creating a strong structure that can be easily disassembled.

Drawings

Assembly Instructions

Rendering

Perfect size to fit in my own dorm!