Hulumao Lounge: A Feline's Dream

Shih-Chang Hsiao and Yu-luen Huang's Innovative Cat Lounge Chair

The Hulumao Lounge is not just a cat bed but a multi-purpose cat toy with a scratcher. It provides a semi-open, cave-like space for cats to hide and feel secure. The sloped area offers a comfortable space for cats to play and rest, with the scratcher located in the center for paw exercise. The scratcher can be replaced when needed, and the entire product can be assembled in just a few minutes. The product's design also allows for easy shipping with a flattened package design.

Shih-Chang Hsiao and Yu-luen Huang began the design process with small scale models before moving to full scale. The lounge chair is made from hard corrugated cardboard, formed by many sloped angle shapes. The cardboard can only be folded in straight lines, dictating a geometric form. The 3D structure was created using design software for efficiency and precision.

The lounge chair measures 560 mm in width, 410 mm in depth, and 260 mm in depth, weighing 2 kg. It is made from corrugated cardboard. The designers tagged the product with keywords such as hulumao, lounge chair, cat bed, cardboard paper, le cheer, cat house, and pet.

The lounge chair can be assembled with just a few steps, allowing cat owners to take joy in constructing it for their cats. The structure is strong and solid due to the double-layered hard corrugated cardboard. The semi-open space is ideal for cats of any size. The project started in March 2016 and finished in July 2016 for final production in Taiwan. The product has been on the market since August 2016.

Shih-Chang Hsiao and Yu-luen Huang conducted extensive research on cat behavior to better understand their needs. They concluded that cats love cardboard boxes because they provide a sense of protection, similar to caves in the wild. Cardboard also has the property to keep heat, maintain warmth, and provide a comfortable surface texture for cats.

The designers faced challenges in balancing the material and the structure of the form for production. They had to consider how to assemble the flat 2D cardboard into a 3D form, how much weight the material could bear, and what kind of minimal structure would provide the best support and comfort for the cat. The product's great structural design not only strengthens the object for easy assembling but also enables the capability for mass production.

The Hulumao Lounge is a specialized design for cats to rest, play, and feel secure. The form, like a cave, provides hiding space for the cats, and the scratcher allows cats to exercise their paws. The challenge was to design a stable structure from a plain cardboard transforming into a physical 3D form, achieved using 3D software. The lounge chair comes with a flattened package design and is ready to use in a few minutes by assembling.

The design was awarded the Golden A' Pet Care, Toys, Supplies and Products for Animals Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.