28 May
2016

Natural Fiber Chair

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Natural Fiber Chair

Natural fiber composite chair

We collaborated with BASF, a worldwide chemical company, and Seth Stem, a professor at RISD, to produce a handsome lounge chair made from a natural hemp fiber composite and water-based acrylic resin.

Demonstrating possibilities

We produced the seat and back of this large lounge chair to demonstrate the properties and possibilities of natural fiber composite. We wanted to challenge status-quo assumptions about what hemp fiber composites could be used for and to create a template to replace plastics. The end result is a durable, comfortable, and handsome chair that helps to push safer, eco-conscious solutions into the market.

Demonstrating possibilities

We produced the seat and back of this large lounge chair to demonstrate the properties and possibilities of natural fiber composite. We wanted to challenge status-quo assumptions about what hemp fiber composites could be used for and to create a template to replace plastics. The end result is a durable, comfortable, and handsome chair that helps to push safer, eco-conscious solutions into the market.

Designing from the ground up.

Our team designed the 3D-model geometry and machined the aluminum mold for the BASF Hemp Chair completely in-house. We created the initial manufacturing methods and systems for its production.

Designing from the ground up.

Our team designed the 3D-model geometry and machined the aluminum mold for the BASF Hemp Chair completely in-house. We created the initial manufacturing methods and systems for its production.

Improving environmental outcomes.

The BASF Hemp chair is made from a natural hemp fiber composite and Acrodur, BASF’s water-based acrylic resin. The material contains 72% natural fibers, 22% more than average composites. The resin is free of formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals. This means that when the fiber composite is heated and pressed into a form, it releases steam and not volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and nauseous odors released by most commercial resins. As we see it, a switch from plastics to fiber composite could mean a reduction of depletable resources and VOCs in manufacturing.

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