Marshmallow: A Unique Stool Design by Paul Ketz

Winner of the Silver A' Furniture Design Award in 2022

Paul Ketz's inspiration for the Marshmallow stool came from the desire to create a design that was almost too tasty to sit on. The stool's design was inspired by muffin and cupcake baking, as well as whipped cream and candies. This inspiration is evident in the stool's soft, creamy appearance and unique shape.

The Marshmallow stool is unique in its manufacturing process. Instead of using a conventional closed mold, the soft seat is formed by allowing polyurethane foam to expand freely from below through a steel frame structure. This method gives each stool a unique shape and a smooth, creamy appearance. The steel frame, manufactured industrially, serves as a formative element due to its matrix-like use.

After the foam expands, the soft seat is coated to give it a glossy finish and make it durable to mechanical stress and UV. To apply this coating finish, Ketz invented and built a special machine that rotates the stool on the X- and Y-axis. This machine ensures a perfect finish and prevents irregularities and drippings.

The Marshmallow stool is not just a visual piece but also functional. Despite its shiny surface, the seat is soft and comfortable to sit on. The stool comes in two sizes: a low stool with a width of 370 mm, depth of 370 mm, and height of 480 mm, and a bar stool with the same width and depth but a height of 780 mm.

The Marshmallow stool project started in Istanbul, Turkey, where Ketz made the first trials and prototypes. He then moved to his current hometown, Cologne, Germany, where he finished the design and conducted further research and trials until he was able to produce the final Marshmallow soft foam stool.

The Marshmallow stool is a testament to Ketz's creativity and innovation in furniture design. It was awarded Silver in the A' Furniture Design Award in 2022, a prestigious award given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that demonstrate outstanding expertise and innovation. The Marshmallow stool, with its unique design and manufacturing process, certainly fits this description.