Khayyam: A Unique Lounge Chair Inspired by Iranian Architecture

Reviving the Value of Hand-Woven Rugs in Modern Design

The Khayyam lounge chair, designed by Fater Saadat Niaki, is a tribute to the renowned Iranian polymath and poet, Omar Khayyam. The chair's frame design is a deconstruction and reconstruction of Hooshang Seyhoun's work for the mausoleum of Omar Khayyam. Seyhoun used quadratic arches with a ten-degree tilt from a perpendicular angle, creating an intricate structure of crisscrossing arches. Similarly, the Khayyam lounge chair replicates these quadratic arcs, with each pair angled to create the seating and backrest structure, while still being interconnected. The name "Khayyam" itself means tent maker, which was the profession of Khayyam's forefathers, and this is hinted at by the tent-like shape created by the crossing structures. The seating surface is attached using tent fabric fixing methods, further emphasizing the connection to Khayyam's heritage.

What sets the Khayyam lounge chair apart is its utilization of recycled hand-woven rugs as the seating surface. In modern times, the utilitarian functionality of carpets has been overshadowed by more modern building materials and insulation, relegating them to purely decorative items. However, this design aims to revive the value of hand-woven rugs by showcasing their unique weight-bearing properties. Carpets have traditionally been used as floor insulators, regulating the ambient temperature of a room by preventing heat transfer to the ground and vice versa. The Khayyam lounge chair harnesses this inherent functionality and transforms the rug into a functional and decorative element. The choice of rugs woven with two threads in each row, such as Sarab, Tabriz, Hamadan, and Zanjan, ensures the strength and durability required for weight-bearing purposes.

The Khayyam lounge chair is not only innovative in its use of recycled materials but also in its design realization technology. The frame is cut using a CNC router from international standard 18mm Baltic birch plywood, and various digital joinery techniques, including mortise and tenon, half-lap joint, and screw and insert nut fasteners, are employed to create a glue-free structure that can be easily stored. The seating surface is made by reusing hand-woven rugs, which are cut with a specific template, stitched, and woven to the frame.

Assembled, the Khayyam lounge chair measures 820mm in width, 1020mm in depth, and 830mm in height. When flat-packed in a box, it measures 1140mm in width, 1140mm in length, and 120mm in height. The chair is designed for DIY assembly, making it accessible and convenient for users.

The Khayyam lounge chair has received recognition for its innovative design. It was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Furniture Design category in 2020. This prestigious award is bestowed upon outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that authenticate experience and resourcefulness. The Khayyam lounge chair exemplifies strong technical and creative skills, contributing to improvements in quality of life and making the world a better place.