Mishima: The World's First Custom Made Carbon Fiber Lounge Chair

A Celebration of Resilience and Imagination

Mishima is a groundbreaking creation, being the world's first custom made carbon fiber lounge chair. Its unique form and construction set it apart from traditional furniture materials. The frame is a unibody structure, 3D-printed in continuous carbon fiber composite, making it incredibly strong and visually appealing. Unlike conventional chairs, Mishima is free of joints, bolts, or glue, further enhancing its strength and aesthetics.

The realization of Mishima's frame involves a patented process. Using proprietary software, the directionality of the carbon fibers is engineered, and a robotic arm bonds them together with melted polymer. This results in a seamless, strong, and streamlined structure. To complete the chair, a stainless steel base and high-end upholstery made of vionette, mohair wool, or leather are added, allowing for customization to suit individual design preferences.

The dimensions of the Mishima chair are 556 mm wide x 506 mm deep x 370 mm high, while the ottoman measures 773 mm wide x 805 mm deep x 764 mm high.

Mishima's design is a harmonious blend of modern technology and traditional craftsmanship. Its gravity-defying, asymmetric form makes a powerful statement, inviting users to relax and contemplate. The organic curves provide comfort and tranquility, while the chair's ability to rotate 360 degrees adds to its functionality. Owners have the option to customize upholstery materials, colors, and can choose to include a matching ottoman, resulting in up to 186 possible combinations.

The Mishima chair and ottoman were launched in November 2021 and made their debut at the Web Summit Lisbon tech conference and the PuzzleX 2021 frontier materials forum in Barcelona.

Extensive research went into the development of Mishima. Carbon fiber furniture often features a high-tech appearance with exposed, woven black carbon fiber. Mishima takes a different approach, combining the wonder of modern technology with traditional fabrication techniques. The result is a design that evokes contemplation while remaining minimalist and comfortable in various settings.

Creating the asymmetric design of Mishima presented several challenges. The chair needed to withstand multidirectional loads, including flexion back, torsional stiffness for swiveling, and vertical stiffness to prevent bending. Traditional thermoset carbon fiber sheets couldn't meet these requirements in complex curves. To overcome this, the frame is 3D printed, with each carbon fiber placement engineered by an algorithm to accommodate these constraints.

The Mishima lounge chair is a testament to cutting-edge unibody construction. Manufactured in a single pass from continuous carbon fiber thermoplastic composite, it exudes a floating appearance and balanced support. Owning a Mishima is an opportunity to disconnect from the stresses of modern life, with 180 potential combinations of customizations available, including fabrics, ottoman options, and finishes.

The Mishima lounge chair is a winner of the prestigious A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category. This recognition is a testament to its well-designed, practical, and innovative nature, meeting professional and industrial requirements. Mishima's integration of industry best practices and competent technical characteristics contribute to a better world.