Line: A Minimalist Chair Design by Hyojoo Maeng

Unveiling the Aesthetic Simplicity of a Chair Inspired by Emptiness and Void

Line, a chair design by Hyojoo Maeng, is a perfect blend of form and function. It is a minimalist design that takes inspiration from the simplest of elements - a dot that evolves into a line. The line, thin from the side but wide from the front, provides comfort to users with its minimal structure and becomes an integral part of the space it occupies.

The uniqueness of this design lies in its fusion of two structures into one. The chair features flat armrests with a triangle shape that serves as the front leg, while the board structure doubles as a seat, backrest, and rear legs. The triangle structure is connected to the seat and backrest, dispersing the total weight and ensuring stability.

Line is crafted from Oak and Walnut, inlaid with ebony. The chair's forms are made in a gently carved wooden framework with a triangle-shaped leg. Six pieces of wooden cogs connect both sides of the rear legs, seat, backrest inside of the structure, all made of wood only. This chair is a testament to the artisanal craftsmanship, with its dimensions being Width 700mm x Depth 845mm x Height 755mm.

The Line chair is designed for both home and corporate environments. The project started in February 2016 in Paris and was completed in June 2016. The design was inspired by the books of Emptiness by Kenya Hara, Void by Lee Ufan, and Less is More by Mies van der Rohe. The design research focused on finding a new aesthetic simplicity of the basic elements, where simple lines create a void, and even a small production can create a spatial image.

The design journey was not without its challenges. After the design was completed, finding a craftsman capable of creating a chair that withstands weight in a concise wooden structure was a significant hurdle. However, after months of searching, two artisans were found who could build the wooden structure with good details. One artisan resides in South Korea and is the possessor of important intangible cultural properties, and another is a master craftsman in Denmark. Each chair takes about three months to make, following a one craftsman/one chair system.

The Line chair design by Hyojoo Maeng was awarded Silver in A' Furniture Design Award in 2017. This award is given to top-of-the-line, creative, and professionally remarkable designs that illustrate outstanding expertise and innovation. These designs, admired for their strong technical characteristics and splendid artistic skill, showcase a remarkable level of excellence and introduce positive feelings, amazement, and wonder.