Embrace Your Heart: A Harmony of Zen and Design

Yansheng Xia and Jie Liang's Award-Winning Chair Design Inspired by Zen Philosophy

The inspiration behind Embrace Your Heart stems from the Buddhist philosophy of Zen, which emphasizes meditation and inner peace. The designers aimed to create a piece of furniture that would allow users to embrace their hearts and explore the depths of their minds. The fragrance of tea and wood, coupled with the chair's comfortable design, is intended to lead users towards a state of Zen.

Embrace Your Heart stands out for its dual functionality. It serves as a chair and a tea-drinking station, with a small drawer on the side for storing a tea set. The angles between different parts of the chair are precisely calculated to ensure maximum comfort, reflecting the designers' meticulous attention to detail. The chair's form is influenced by traditional Chinese style and resonates with Buddhist cultural aspects.

The chair is crafted from different standards of wood board, utilizing CNC lathe technique for precise and perfect cuts. Specific wood joints are used to assemble the parts, with glue ensuring the stability of the joints. The chair's dimensions are Width 680mm x Depth 500mm x Height 875mm, making it a compact yet comfortable piece of furniture.

The design process, which started in December 2015 in Zhengzhou and concluded in June 2016, presented several challenges. The designers had to strike a balance between modern and classic aesthetics, a common preference among Chinese consumers. The edges and form of the chair were simplified to give it a modern touch, while the Zen philosophy and traditional style added a classical element.

Embrace Your Heart is a testament to Yansheng Xia and Jie Liang's innovative approach to furniture design. The chair is not just a functional piece of furniture, but a space for relaxation and contemplation. It invites users to step away from the noise and hustle of daily life and embrace the peace within their hearts. This unique design, which earned the Silver A' Design Award in 2017, truly embodies the spirit of Zen.