Taboo: A Biodegradable Chair with a New Perspective

Designers Ji Qi and Donghang Wang Create a Unique, Eco-Friendly Furniture Piece

The chair's design is inspired by the human female pelvis, with the material technique drawing from the paper clay used in ceramics art. The designers have altered the characteristics of the clay by adding additions, creating a unique, non-fire clay that is as strong as ABS plastic. This material can completely degrade to organic fertilizer within two years in an industrial landfill environment, reflecting a commitment to energy saving and emission reduction.

The structure of the chair has been topologically optimized, with parameters of force, support, and pressure values set to eliminate redundant parts. This chair can withstand 100kg of longitudinal force, demonstrating its strength and durability. The design process involved the use of the Finite Element Analysis plug-in in Rihno for topology optimization calculations, with the prototype printed using 3D printing. Over 70 plaster molds were created from the disassembled prototype, with the final product produced using the casting process.

The chair's dimensions are 420mm x 260mm x 450mm, and it is tagged with keywords such as Clay, Biodegradation, Topology Optimization, and Carbon Neutrality. The project began in June 2020 in Nanjing and was completed in February 2022 in the same city. The design team, consisting of Ji Qi and Donghang Wang, faced several challenges in the development of the chair, including adjustments to additives and clay shrinkage, the skilled use of topology optimization, the development of robotic arm 3D clay printing technology, and the generation of internal crystal structures.

The designers conducted extensive research on new materials and molding processes to create this chair. They formulated a biodegradable high-strength no-bake clay material under the requirement of low carbon emission, avoiding the high energy consumption of modern industrial production while achieving the sustainable use of resources. The goal was to achieve maximum material utilization with the support of topology optimization algorithms. The designers hope to mature the production process through experimentation in the field of furniture, eventually reinventing the world by entering the construction industry with the concept of raw earth construction.

Taboo is more than just a chair; it is a statement of sustainable design and innovative thinking. It is a testament to the designers' creativity and technical skills, and their commitment to improving the quality of life and making the world a better place. This design is indeed a deserving winner of the prestigious Bronze A' Design Award in 2023.