¢Back to soil chair£

Wood, Hide glue
W410~D540~H770
Noriyuki Ebina (Japan)

Born in 1958
1982 Graduated from Department of Design, School of Art and Technology, Hokkaido Tokai University Kenmochi Design Associates
1985 Comtech Design
1987 A furniture maker in Asahikawa
1992 Foundation of Prime Design Office
1994 Honorable Mention-Shinanogawa Technopolis International Design Competition
1995 Honorable Mention-Nagoya International Design Competition
1996 Silver Prize-International Furniture Design Fair Asahikawa '96
1997 Prize of Furniture Category-The 2nd Kyushu Design Competition
Member of the Japan Interior Designer Association
Work concept
The seat of the chair is made of fine sliced veneer which is normally used as a cushioning material for transportation, or it is used to make nests of small animals such as hamsters. The wood chips are glued by natural hide glue. There are wooden built-in pieces in back of the seat to screw in and anchor the legs which are also made of wood.
The material of the seat can be made from any type of wood, and people do not need large and ancient trees to make the chair. This work is designed to acquire the maximum effect by using wood, which is a finite material, to the minimum. Moreover, since the material is 100% natural, the chair would return to the soil if a man buries it in the ground when it becomes unnecessary. Human creatures have the power to destroy nature while they are living. I think that the designers should not ignore the fact that the nature is being destroyed by human beings and just keep going.
We should not cut down trees which took hundreds of years to be grown only because of our ego. I designed this chair with self-searching as a designer.
Comments
The work is unique as a theme. I value its concept, which the chair can return to nature when it become redundant, as a proposal about the perspective on materials. (Kita)

The work needs much improvement as a product. However, I think the proposal of the work is important when I think about sustainability. (Kawakami)

It is still on an experimental level yet has a potential for its usage of material. By upgrading the manufacturing skill and design vision, it can be an advanced wooden furniture with indication of the ecological future society. (Wiherheimo)