COPENHAGEN, DENMARK –Ikea’s design and analysis lab, Space10, has launched what it’s referred to as a “Sofa in an Envelope.” In collaboration with tech firm Panter&Tourron, the mission reimages the couch as one thing that’s mild, simple to move, adaptable and may stand the take a look at of time.
“This mission started as a strategy to problem problematic design archetypes,” mentioned Georgina McDonald, Area 10 director of inventive and partnerships. “The sofa, as we all know it right this moment, is a sophisticated and high-maintenance piece of furnishings: to seek out and to maneuver. Nevertheless beloved it’s, the sofa is usually a pressure on individuals owing to its weight, the planet resulting from its design intricacies, and a burden on the buddies who generously assist us to maneuver.
“This mission is an agenda for change, inspiring the design neighborhood to maneuver additional in the direction of a sofa that’s higher for us and the planet.’
McDonald mentioned that traditionally, the standard archetype of the couch has been heavy, cumbersome and rigid. Sustainability generally is a problem when designing a settee, with individuals usually in search of consolation first. As such, the traditional couch can take up house in storage and is energy-intensive to move. Their quite a few elements could make sofas tough to recycle, with many ending up in landfills.
Sofa in an Envelope is designed to be mild. The workforce conceptualized the sofa or couch for modern dwelling, with the idea that includes a flat base and adjustable ‘wings’ that permit it to flex to the altering wants of life at dwelling. With its modular design, a number of couches might be put collectively to create a bigger seating house.
The design is created utilizing aluminum, cellulose-based materials and yarns, and mycelium foam, which makes it 100% recyclable. Because the variety of supplies is lowered to maintain the design light-weight, the sofa is simple to move, stackable and easy to disassemble and transfer.
In accordance with McDonald, the Sofa in an Envelope started with a query in regards to the archetype of the sofa and why so many couches are cumbersome, cushioned and heavy.
‘Outdated, unsustainable design archetypes embedded in giant language fashions are problematic in algorithms and negatively influence the way forward for design,” mentioned Alexis Tourron, Panter&Tourron designer and co-founder. “Presently, AI can solely take us to this point in design innovation earlier than craft, and the human hand must intervene.”
Through the use of various prompts and descriptions, similar to platform, light-weight, sustainable, recyclable, and straightforward to maneuver, Panter&Tourron was in a position to generate a sequence of recent sofa designs which might be light-weight, adaptable and round, and a break from the standard archetype.
“Consolation is primarily the primary requirement when designing a sofa, which may compromise sturdiness and sustainability,” mentioned Stefano Panterotto, Panter&Tourron designer and co-founder. “We needed to simplify the fabric composition, prioritize weight, disassembly and circularity. We’ve envisaged one thing that’s 100% recyclable, with out sacrificing softness. Sofa in an Envelope is a brand new technology of consolation.”
Sofa in an Envelope might be explored in additional element in Copenhagen at Space10’s new exhibition Design within the Age of AI, the place a prototype of the sofa might be on show.
See additionally: Ikea launches new platform looking at future technology
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