Seating furniture is frequently not designed for long-term use or simple assembly and disassembly and has a tendency to break after just one move. This does not apply to the benches, chairs, and stools that were created as part of the LinumTube cooperation project led by Fraunhofer WKI. The goal of the project consortium was to develop ecologically sustainable seating furniture for the circular economy. The indoor furniture is made of a steel substructure and a cover made of flax fibers. The different materials can be separated through non-destructive disassembly. As a result, components can be reused, rearranged or returned to the material cycle. The innovative shape and combination of steel and textile components give rise to a stable overall construction that does not require anything to be glued or bolted together. Developing and producing the multi-layer flax fiber fabric was the focus of the work carried out at Fraunhofer WKI, while the project partner Studio Jonathan Radetz was primarily in charge of developing the substructure and the design. The project received funding from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
Modular system allows for quick assembly and disassembly
“Our idea was to design seating furniture that is as simple as possible, to allow for quick assembly, disassembly and rearrangement so that the items can be easily taken apart when moving,” says Christina Haxter, a researcher at Fraunhofer WKI. “We also focused on the aspect of sustainability, and we did so through our choice of materials. The furniture can be disassembled and separated into its individual components, steel tubes and natural fiber fabric, that can then be fed back into different material cycles, some of which have been firmly established for many years.”
Innovative design principle and state-of-the-art weaving technology
The covers are made of thick and sturdy multi-layer flax fiber fabric and feature integrated duct structures that allow for the covers to be easily fitted over the steel tubes. Double-rapier weaving machine at Fraunhofer WKI is used to make the covers. The fabric comes out of the machine in one piece and does not need to be subsequently sewn together or cut into shape. The only further processing step that is necessary is for the edges to be finished. Christina Haxter: “You can take the fabric from the machine and after quickly finishing the edges you can fit it over the steel tubes immediately.”
There are different types of covers: multi-colored and in natural hues, with and without fringes, with and without a lamellar structure that creates a gathered cushioning effect on the seating surface as well as providing for added seating comfort. One aspect that the project manager and the team had to take into account when developing the fabric was the ways in which the arrangement of structures impacted assembly and disassembly of the furniture. Additional integrated structures on the fabric surface or underside allow for removable LED strips to be threaded through the fabric to create indirect lighting and a cozy atmosphere. The steel structure is also available in different shapes, featuring either round or square tubes that are supported by a selection of legs.
Holistic, flexible design concept
Thanks to a holistic, flexible design concept, the different fabric varieties can be combined with a diverse range of steel structures. This concept ensures that the dimensions of the furniture items can be adapted so that the individual components can be used for putting together various design elements. The first few prototypes of the seating furniture have already been presented to an international audience at a number of prestigious furniture fairs.
About LinumTube
Project funded by:
Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
Project partners:
- Studio Jonathan Radetz
- Fraunhofer WKI
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
