made in paper
Student Design
Exhibition
Student Design
Exhibition
The joint design project of Tomas Bata University in Zlín (Czechia) and the Technical University in Zvolen (Slovakia) is a conceptual experiment presenting paper furniture.
The exhibition made in paper invites visitors to a land where they can discover paper as a unique construction material and also as an element of specific self-expression.
Paper is not a commonly used material in furniture making, but it offers unique possibilities in terms of mechanical characteristics, shaping, pigmentation, affordability, psychological effect on users, and other aspects for which it is popular with students who know that great designers and renowned architects – Shigeru Ban (JAP), Frank Gehry (USA), Studio Gang (USA), or WooJai Lee (NL) to name but a few – have successfully used it in their work.
Concepts of young designers from Czechia and Slovakia bring a fresh opinion on the application of different paper and paper-based materials in the field of furniture design. The authors oscillate between the rational and emotional grasp of the subject. They explore the material for specific use in functional-aesthetic, ecological-environmental, socio-cultural and, last but not least, production-economic relationships.
The common topic was modified by the individual students and this new situation opened a wide range of subtopics and unique approaches; among the exhibits we can find inflatable paper furniture, children's furniture, structure-based designs, as well as experiments employing destruction of form, models emphasizing need for recycling, or pieces consciously referring to already existing shape and tectonic solutions.
The mutual connection of both universities has been nurtured not only by geographical proximity but also by linguistic similarity and other sociohistorical interrelations. This year, both countries are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. In 1993, the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic was officially divided into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, but close ties and exceptional cooperation between the two nations remained unchanged. Today, both institutions of higher learning enjoy intensive collaboration in terms of student and academic staff mobility and also organize joint workshops and projects such as this exhibition titled made in paper.
Cross box is a piece of paper furniture based on easy handling, compactness and affordability. The top plate is provided with a foil for damage. The construction consists of three parts only and is designed to produce as little waste as possible. "Cross box saves time and work."
Houpací kůň is designed for children from two and a half years and more. Recycled corrugated board as a material does not pose a major environmental burden. After the baby grows, the toy can be recycled again. The product is hollow inside for weight lightening and the surface of the rocking chair offers the child the opportunity of painting over it at will.
Cuba was created for the students' needs as a complementary sitting on the hall of residence. Its main advantages are compactness, low weight and lesser environmental burden with time-limited use. Cuba does not contain any glued parts, all joints are structural.
The chosen material is recycled paper, cardboard and in the form of packaging materials or crates for the eggs. They are ecological, warm, soft and with a good availability of as waste from restaurants, hotels or school canteens. After various trials and tests was especially the smoothness change of the properties of the material and dipping into the water glass. Was the material, which is the final piece pleasant to the touch with a visually interesting drawing. This material thus can be machined like wood and can be used for various furniture parts. The final product is a low seating as a variable taburet.
Simply seat are simple seating elements made of one piece of cardboard. The dimensions of the individual elements are reduced by the thickness of the material. By storing them placed one inside another, Simply seat applies the principle of a matryoshka doll. The seating elements will find application in both residential and public interiors.
Double Hexa is a set of seating elements for the interior. The design is inspired by a matryoshka system, hiding several other decreasingly-sized elements. The ergonomics of the elements is suitable for the whole family up to a load of 100 kg.
The concept of the footstool represents a simple and quick solution for temporary sitting. The honeycomb paper board used for this product takes advantage of its basic characteristics enabling variable, lightweight but stable construction. It consists only of a peripheral part and two ribs connected by a simple lock without the use of adhesive. The product is fully recyclable, easy to store and easy to handle.
A series of cardboard seating designed for people who have lost their homes due to natural disasters and are temporarily placed in evacuation shelters. Each of the elements has 3 seating-lying options and can also be used as a table. Each one has its own character. The elements are simply folded out of one piece of material (low price, easy handling, storage).
Wheep is a rocking chair for young children (ages 4–6). Honeycomb paper board is easy to manufacture and it is also environmentally friendly. The object consists of only four parts without the use of glue. The material is suitable for digital direct printing that can raise attractiveness of the final product. Children can also use their own set of stickers or make their own drawings.
Gee up! is a revolutionary movement toy for children based on a study of emotional, creative and playful design. The simple shape of a rocking horse stimulates children to imagine the animal on which they want to rock. Using bent recycled carton that is glued between the layers, the high load capacity of the product (actually tested to over 80 kg) has been achieved. This product is also environment-friendly and old, used cardboard can be used for the production. The bridle is made of a rigid rope and is attached in the eye of the screw bolt which ensures tensile strength when pulling the rope. In addition, the rope and screw bolt connection creates a metallic sound effect which evokes a real-life ride.
The last layer provides a surface for children's drawing of a riding saddle, different animals such as zebra or mustang, or a motorcycle.
Paper chair is an original armchair design offering a comfortable and durable construction without the need for other materials or glueing. The front part is made of paper lamels ensuring high load capacity. For convenient handling, the rear part is provided with a handle section.
The design of cardboard furniture represents a modern and innovative solution in the form of a flexible taburet. Once the tabouret is seated on, it clutches and remains fixed in the position. The tabouret is shaped in a simple geometric spirit and at the present time, which also involves the method of its folding, thanks to which it springs and thus is a partially dynamic sitting. The inside of the tabouret fulfills the storage function by simply lifting the seat up which uncovers storage compartments for four bottles of wine or beer. Therefore, the tabouret is also a promotional item which could be bought with the products inside and after being carried home or to some occasion, you can sit on it with your friends and have a glass of wine.
Cali is an armchair with comfortable ergonomics, long service life and easy handling. High strength is provided by plastic connectors. The product consists of six parts, which is practical for transporting and folding. The armchair is ideal for short-term social events where seats need to be expanded.
A piece of furniture capable of transformation into anything. A series of furniture elements made up of six basic typological features offer the user an unusual and creative type of paper furniture. The individual segments consist of a basic construction made of paper tubes, the character of which is complemented by a reversible wrapping of "strapping paper." The added value is the simple exchangeability of the worn out or overfamiliar "Strapáč". With or without packaging, it is still a unique and functional interior design element. When the interior is replaced, the furniture is not, only the packaging. The wrapping is changed but the function remains. Depending on the type of paper used, it comes in an art, recycled or luxury version.
The design of the coffee table is inspired by an origami swallow. The object is a shelf for where you can put your book as well as a horizontal snack bar. Double construction ensures greater stability, load capacity and plenty of storage space. The advantage of the solution is the easy composition of only two parts.
Pupu cradle is designed for children under 1 year and is made of paper honeycomb, which is easily recyclable when the baby grows up, thereby efficiently uses the short-term durability of the material. The design is based on utilization of the positive properties of the paper in favor of a temporary product solution.
Seating created for students living in dormitories. A piece of furniture serving one semester or one school year. It consists of one piece of cardboard and a supporting part for sitting. The whole chair is sewed together at the back. Preserving industrial printing on the carton evokes urbanism and industrialization. Simple composition. Cheap, recyclable, DIY.
Houpy Houp is a modern rocking toy with interchangeable heads of various animals. The child can change the visual character of the bumper to suit the taste. The target group is children from three to four years of age. The material used is a very durable five-ply cardboard. The solution allows children to create paper surfaces according to their ideas. Supplementary material is elastic foam applied to saddles and wooden handrails.
Cradle is a piece of children's paper furniture designed for a 6 months-old child or smaller. The main benefit is variability. From four segments, a cradle, baby cot or table can be folded. The whole structure can be easily dismantled to facilitate transportation and storage. The design of the Swing is very solid and secure thanks to its designed locks.
The honeycomb plate, which is very solid but also light, can be fully recycled.
The cardboard lounge chair Kubo is designed to minimize material waste from production. Elegant lines, inspired by the Czech cubism, allows the lounge chair to become a part of any interior. Its greatest advantages are low cost, low weight and especially a flat-pack package.
Airpack is a paper inflatable seating which efficiently avails its features such as lightness, price and transportation. The product is meant to be used as a promotional material for companies manufacturing beverage packaging since the inspiration behind this product came from the true use of that type of paper. This also provides the possibility of using paper recycling for its production. Another possibility is as an interior element with distinctive character.
Teeter stool is designed for people who are just moving to a new apartment, often travel or need to sit down cheaply, comfortably and environment-friendly. Balancing tabouret is made of recycled cardboard paper bent without the use of force or special mounting parts and preparations. It's designed so that everyone can simply fold it anywhere needed. The only thing needed for an assembly are plastic straps that are housed in the center so that they do not disturb the overall impression of the stool. The shape of the tabouret itself forces the user to maintain balance in the way they are in the balance seating and thus promotes healthy sitting.
Lexto is a conference table ideal for use in small-scale living. The furniture design is characterized by simple manipulation in the composition and layout and economy of production with minimal material consumption. Due to the corrugated cardboard characteristics and the way of folding it takes min. 50 kg. Distribution relies on the purchase of a finished product ora template for easy production at home.
3 rohy is a low-cost product designed as a stool or a small table for trade fairs or festivals. This piece of furniture can be combined with other accessories such as sitting bags and it can also serve as a promotional item. The stool can be printed with various patterns. The construction is fixed with a rope without the use of adhesive. The stool is very light, easy to store and surprisingly it can carry a maximum load of up to 100 kilograms.
