Breathing Chair
Most chairs that you come across look like “you guessed it” chairs. This one is an exception though.
In 2009, Wu Yu-Ying was awarded the red dot award for “Breathing”, a chair that transforms its shape according to the body of the person sitting in it.
The Breathing chair is made with thermoplastic polyurethane foam, which is a 100% recyclable material. The elasticity of the material allows the chair to change shape under the sitter’s weight, and provides constant support to the body. The edges of the chair automatically serve an armrest function. When the user stands up from the chair, it returns to its original cube shape.
The interlaced pattern of the foam serves a function as well as providing an aesthetic. Firstly, the dimensions of the pattern are compatible with the size of the human body. Secondly, due to the varied pulling forces exerted by the interlaced pattern, the body is prevented from sinking too far into the chair. The gaps in the centre are larger than those around the edges, indicating the correct place to sit down.
After the chair sinks, the width and the height of the chair are decided by the user’s body shape and weight. Thus, the chair performs ergonomically for any body shape. The unlimited sitting options are fun for everyone.
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1 Comment
Josh Urso Design
May 25, 2010We love the trend of responsive foam seating and this is one of the most aesthetically interesting options. It also looks like one of the more comfortable and functionally successful designs. Seeing the piece in action is key with these designs because it often isn’t clear if the piece is a stool or like this design, more of a club chair.