Mosaic-like stools are made from the soles of discarded rubber shoes

The fashion industry is known for its striking designs, lavish materials, and sometimes mind-blowing forms, but it also has a dirty little secret when it comes to sustainability. Many of those materials, processes, and even ingredients have a tendency to harm the environment, especially mass-produced pieces of clothing, accessories, and footwear. Even something that sounds so innocent like the rubber soles of shoes can have a long-term negative impact on the planet’s health, especially when they’re thrown away without much thought. Although it’s not enough to make this discarded material disappear, these distinctive artistic stools help reduce their numbers while providing furniture that makes an impact in more ways than one.

Designer: BENTU Design

According to figures, 20 billion pairs of shoes are produced each year, and nearly all of those end up in landfills sooner or later. Footwear is usually made with half a dozen synthetic materials, with outsoles using plenty of rubber that takes more than a hundred years to decompose. Burning them, on the other hand, releases toxic gases, which is usually what happens in garbage disposal sites. Even though the process still uses water and energy, recycling these materials is still a significantly better way to deal with all the waste.

WU is a line of stools that does exactly that, giving new life to shoe soles that result in an even more interesting design. 90% of each stool’s raw materials are made from recycled rubber shoe materials, about 15kg of material that is equivalent to 60 rubber soles. It’s a small number compared to the amount of shoes being thrown away, but even just 10 of these stools mean 600 shoes are kept away from landfills.

The resulting design is quite intriguing as well. The raw materials are classified according to color to have a more uniform appearance, but the uniqueness still comes out in tiny bits of colors and microtextures. If some recycled plastics create a terrazzo effect, the recycled rubber soles result in finer and smaller pieces that have a grainy appearance as if painted with oils or mixed in with concrete.

The shape of the WU stool is also unusual, with a hexagon seat and a three-pointed base. This makes it easy to combine the stools into a larger form like a bench, though the connection will be superficial and perhaps a bit unstable. When placed together, these stools paint a rather eye-catching picture, almost literally, as if somebody took reality and applied a mosaic filter on it. Either way, no one will be the wiser that these were probably made from the pair of shoes they threw away years ago.

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Alien-like metal stool concept inspires awe rather than fear

Grotesque alien creatures will probably be trending again thanks to the revival of a long-running movie franchise, but all extraterrestrial creatures will look horrifying. They might be breathtaking, defying all the preconceived notions of our limited human minds. They might not even be organic, at least as defined by what we know on earth. If we ever encountered an inorganic, metallic alien that didn’t look like any biped or quadruped Earthbound creature, it could probably look like this metal stool with its symmetric tentacles that seemingly invite you to approach and, well, sit on it for your comfort.

Designer: Riley MacKay

Alien references aside, this metal and wood stool definitely doesn’t look like your typical piece of furniture. There are technically still four legs, though they look double that number because of how each leg splits into two. The legs seemingly turn and swirl around the center of the stool, giving the impression of tentacles moving around a metallic creature.

Unlike what you’d see from a jellyfish or octopus, however, there is a strict symmetry to the stool’s geometric design. The legs protrude at a specific angle away from the body and to the side, creating the shape of a spinning star when the stool is viewed from the top. This design provides both visual and mechanical balance, giving the stool stability despite its seemingly thin and flat legs.

There is also a sustainability angle to the Metal Stool, though perhaps a bit indirectly. The legs are made from sheet metal while the seat is birch wood, both of which can be sourced from sustainable or renewable options. The minimalist design could mean that these parts can be taken from factory offcuts as well, providing a new purpose for otherwise discarded and wasted materials.

The Metal Stool is a prime example of a simple and subtle design that manages to look quite stunning just by shifting the formula just a little bit. Whether it reminds you of aliens, jellyfish, or abstract art, the stool has the same effect of catching your attention and adding a unique character to any space. And, of course, you can sit on it as well without fear of toppling over or, worse, being taken by metal tentacles into the depths of a dark void.

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Modular stool concept is designed for people who love sitting cross-legged

Stools are often classified as tall, backless chairs, and like most seats, they’re designed to be used in a specific way. You simply sit on top of the stool and have your legs hanging from the edge, with your feet planted firmly on the ground. This style of sitting might be common, but it’s definitely not how everyone sits around the world. In some cultures, particularly in Asia, people tend to sit cross-legged on the floor, at least when they’re at home or in establishments designed to cater to that culture. Stools, of course, aren’t meant to support that way of sitting, but this concept design tries to expand the traditional stool design to be more inclusive while also offering an additional feature completely unrelated to sitting.

Designer: Gisung Han

It’s probably too much of a generalization but sitting cross-legged has become associated with Asian cultures. Especially in countries like Korea and Japan, some families tend to sit on the floor during meals in that position, something that might not sit well with those who don’t consider it proper during meals. Eating outdoors, of course, is a completely different matter, especially in public places like outdoor restaurants that only provide simple stools for customers. One simply can’t sit cross-legged comfortably, but still try to do it.

Named after a famous avenue in South Korea, the Euljiro stool concept tries to solve this conundrum with a design that caters to both normal sitting and cross-legged sitting. This seemingly magical capability is made possible by the stool’s two-part modular design. When joined together, it looks like a simple, two-color stool that you can use normally. But remove the top part and you actually get two stools, with the top shorter than the bottom.

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When you insert one of the legs of the taller stool into the middle of the shorter one, you get a two-tier seat seemingly joined at the hip. This setup would allow the person to sit with their legs crossed without worries they’ll tumble backward or to the side. It doesn’t take up too much space either, and it can even be used as two separate stools if there aren’t enough seats to go around.

Euljiro’s flexibility also extends to its use as a place to put bags while eating. This is especially useful in restaurants that don’t have designated storage for bags, where putting bags down on the ground might be unhygienic. It’s definitely a creative way to solve multiple problems with a single design while ironically still sticking to the most common stool shape of all.

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Bent wooden stool requires no screws or hinges to assemble from flat packaging

Flat-packed furniture has become quite the sensation, satisfying both the need for easy-to-assemble mass-produced products as well as a craving for the trendy minimalist design. There are, however, certain limits to those designs, especially because of the need to be flat and tightly packed. Putting them together also sometimes requires a bit of patience and know-how, particularly when small parts and screws are involved. This stool concept design challenges those conventions, however, by using mechanisms that require no extra parts, no screws, and even no glue, yet still delivers a multifunctional piece of furniture that looks unique and distinctive, unlike most mass-produced flat-packed products.

Designer: Joao Teixeira

The easiest method to join two separate pieces after they have left the factory would be to either screw or glue them together. The former entails more complicated parts while the other often employs chemicals harmful to the environment. There are, however, techniques that simply use shapes and the force of physics, particularly gravity, to keep two parts together. The dovetail joint, which looks like two puzzle pieces getting wedged together, is one such mechanism, and it is the technique employed by this Flat Stool design.

That in itself is already impressive, but the stool’s real claim to fame is how its sides can curve and bend despite being flat-packed. You’d usually have to resort to tricks like hinges, which you have to screw, to change a wooden plank’s direction, but the Flat Stool uses a rather unconventional design to do the same. Specifically, it uses kerf bending on those bent areas to create a gentle curve that makes it look like the piece was shipped that way right from the start.

The effect is a stool whose sides bend down and inward, attaching to the middle of the slanted legs that also have a kerf bend to them. This creates a loop on both sides, an empty space that can serve as a holding space for books, phones, or other objects that don’t need a flat, horizontal surface to lie on. As a bonus, the kerfs and ribs of the stool are exposed and visible for everyone to see, creating visual accents that make the stool look more interesting.

Admittedly, some might have concerns about how long the dovetail joints will hold over time as the wooden contacts between the joints wear down. The kerfs might also look a bit worrying, especially on the legs, given the decrease in the mass of the wooden boards. Nevertheless, it’s an interesting concept that tries to think outside the flat-packed box to provide a design that isn’t as flat, literally and figuratively.

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Stackable, plastic stool is colorful short-term multi-functional seat

Because of my bad back, I am not that much a fan of stools. But there are times that it’s the most practical (and only available) kind of seating especially if you live in Asia. On our side of the world, it’s often used for short-term use at places like street food stalls, markets, and corner pubs. There’s always room for well-designed stools that may also serve other purposes aside from sitting on it.

Designer Name: Sheng-Wen, Wang

StOol is a concept for stools that are meant for short-term use. The seat has a fan-shaped design with a stem-like backrest. It is meant for areas with minimal space and They are easily stackable so it’s easy to put them away and get them out for places that also have small storage spaces. They are made from polypropylene plastic so you can use them indoor and outdoor as well.

With the way it’s designed, you can also use the stool for other purposes. Those standing can use it as backrest or armrest. The surface of the stool can also be used to place items if you need a sort of side table. It can also be used as support for hanging objects. There can also be many colors available so it can add a splash of color to your space.

It may not seem the most comfortable place to sit on, especially for people like me who may need a sturdier backrest. But for short-term use and for small spaces, it may be an ideal kind of furniture to have.

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Recyclable stool made from potato scraps and sawdust can be used for firewood

There are plenty of designs that advertise being sustainable, but many of them stop halfway through the product’s life cycle. They are usually made from sustainable or renewable materials, and some, but not all, are made with a reduced carbon footprint. That said, not many cover what happens after the product has served its purpose, which often means adding to the already enormous amount of waste we produce annually. Fortunately, there are some designs that do take that into account, creating a circular economy where the product or its materials can be used for other purposes. One example is this cork-like stool that, true to its wooden nature, can actually be used like firewood to heat up a space or, better yet, fuel workshops that will produce the materials to be used to create another stool.

Designer: Renaud Defrancesco

Wood is a much-loved material by designers and producers. It has an innate beauty and texture that’s hard to reproduce artificially, it is biodegradable, and, to some extent, also renewable. It takes time for trees to grow, however, and not all parts of the wooded material actually end up getting used. Many get left on the cutting room floor, either as small chunks or, worse, sawdust. The latter is easy to take for granted until they pile up and become pollutants themselves, at least until they dissolve and disintegrate over a long period of time.

Briket is a stool that tries to solve that material waste problem by giving a new purpose to waste byproducts not just from woodworking but also from the food industry. In a nutshell, this nine-legged stool is made from sawdust scraps as well as potato scraps, both biodegradable and environment-friendly materials we throw out by the ton every day. Creating the parts of the stool itself isn’t exactly hard either, as it mostly involves compressing these minute pieces until they become a rigid and solid mass. This, in theory, can be done anywhere there’s an abundance of wood waste, which practically means sawmills, carpentry shops, workshops, and other places that work with large quantities of wood.

What makes the Briket stool more interesting, however, is how it can be used for some unrelated purpose when it has reached its end of life. Inspired by wooden pellets used for bonfires and fire pits, it can serve as fuel to heat up a place or keep the fire of a workshop going, letting it serve people one last time before finally biting the dust, pun intended. In fact, the legs of the stool can be individually removed and replaced, making the piece of furniture almost immortal as long as there are replacement parts available.

In terms of aesthetics, Briket has a unique raw appearance and texture that is more similar to cork than wood, something that might not sit well with everyone’s tastes. Because of that, some people might even have doubts about its stability and reliability as furniture you will sit on. Fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case, and Briket stands as a shining example of a truly sustainable design from start to finish.

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Top 10 Sustainable Stools To Incorporate Eco-Friendly Furniture Designs In Your Home

Stools are truly the way to go in today’s world! Stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable, and if you make them sustainable, well they’re everything you could need. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a minimal stackable stool with slim wooden legs to a stool made from recycled bike parts – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. Drum Stool

Dubbed the Drum Stool, this stackable, minimal, and sustainable stool looks like a cute little wine cork when you first look at it. But as you dig and look deeper, you realize the stool has quite a lot to offer. The sustainable stool is made using cork and wood, creating a sturdy and durable seating design that is truly eco-friendly, and also quite aesthetic to look at.

Why is it noteworthy?

Cork and wood were selected to build the wood, rating it pretty high on sustainability. The seat was built using cork, while wood was used to build the legs, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly seating solution, that will integrate well with modern contemporary homes.

What we like

  • Equipped with a round trimmed surface that gives it a fun and playful shape
  • Functions as a cohesive and harmonious furniture piece

What we dislike

  • The trimmed cork seat doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for longer durations of time

2. The 2 Stools from 1 Bicycle

The 2 Stools from 1 Bicycle project upcycled old bikes to create new stools. They create a product that can be easily used by everyone, and won’t be easily thrown away by people. The stools feature unique and noteworthy aesthetics, that will add some personality and charm to your living space, and you won’t feel like giving them away at all.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stools feature slanted legs which offer it a usual and unique shape, which brings to mind the image of the original bike frames they were taken from. One stool is equipped with three legs, while the other has four legs. The seat is crafted from recyclable cork, which isn’t from the bike, it does maintain the stool’s sustainable personality.

What we like

  • Unusual and unique aesthetics

What we dislike

  • The stools don’t look too comfy to sit on for long periods

3. The +52 Stool

Studio Plastique conducted extensive and deep research on the current timber designs in the market and their manufacturing. They then utilized all their knowledge to build a unique and sustainable wooden step stool called the +52 Stool. The +52 stool isn’t just a typical furniture design and is created to be a scenario.

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool captures and showcases the potential of the undervalued wood types, and how they can be used as sustainable alternatives to the typically-used wood types. The stool is manufactured using non-commercial woods such as koto, willow, elm, acacia, and birch.

What we like

  • The stool is created to address the lack of awareness regarding lesser-known wood species

What we dislike

  • The look of the stool is pretty rustic and raw, which won’t be preferred by everyone

4. Superpop Tables

These colorful little stools/tables are called the Superop tables, and they have mesmerizing terrazzo-like surfaces that have been crafted from recycled plastic. The Superpop tables are designed by Paolo Cappello for Miniforms, and they function as attractive little furniture pieces, that add a much-needed pop of color and character to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Superpop tables are quite versatile, and they can be utilized as side tables, stools, or even coffee tables. They are versatile, lightweight, and sustainable furniture pieces with a pop of fun!

What we like

  • Feature versatile functionality with a universal appeal

What we dislike

  • Since they’re so colorful and eccentric, could be difficult to match them with different interior styles

5. Plastic Translation Stool

Named the Plastic Translation Stool, this interesting stool design recreates a plastic form, building a form that is familiar and yet unique. This enables the unique wooden stool to possess a character of its own, adding some wooden minimalism and subtlety to your living space.

Why is it noteworthy?

Since the wooden legs won’t offer the same stability as the plastic bits, another element – the Birch plywood buttresses is added to the stool. It evens out some of the force across the beechwood legs, allowing the buttresses to be held together. This increases architectural stability, as well as visual amplification.

What we like

  • The stool doesn’t need screws or nails to be assembled
  • Features a fun puzzle-like design

What we dislike

  • Options to customize the stool are currently missing

6. Stump Recycled Stool

Derlot designed the original Stump stool sometime ago, and now they’ve unveiled the new Stump Recycled stool which has the same structure of the OG Stump stool, but it is interesting built from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic LPDE. The Stump Recycled stool is quite colorful and visually intriguing to look at, which adds extra brownie points besides its sustainability.

Why is it noteworthy?

The new Stump stool features a different design, as the patterns form a terrazzo-like design that offers the stool a textured and colored look. You can pick stools with a kaleidoscope-like finish, which provides a fresh interpretation of how recycled materials can be used to elevate a design.

What we like

  • Offers a new and fresh take on how recycled materials can be utilized

What we dislike

  • The stool is quite small and doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long

7. Tie Stool

Dubbed the Tie Stool, this stunning stool is made from three bent pieces of plywood that effortlessly lock into one another, creating a unique tripod form that is quite comfy to sit on. It is a simple stool made using minimal materials making the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three plywood strips can be split into 6 total parts, forming individual parts that are built using high pressure, causing the plywood to bend and retain its shape. The cutting processes are performed on the parts allowing them to interlock into one another.

What we like

  • Flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • Features a stackable form

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

8. TAKEoSEAT

Meet the TAKEoSEAT – a folding stool unlike any other. Designed by KRETHO, this portable stool allows you to simply pick it up, and move around as you please. You don’t need to rearrange furniture or sweat over a particularly heavy chair. It flattens down to a large portfolio and looks like a stylish bag made of felt.

Why is noteworthy?

The TAKEoSEAT is made from PET felt, and this felt is derived from plastic bottles that we often use and throw away without giving a second thought about where they may end up. They are put through a special process, to create material that is familiar to touch, but also strong and sturdy.

What we like

  • The stool is crafted from PET-felt
  • Has an easy-to-carry and portable form

What we dislike

  • Folding designs are quite common these days, so not much to set the stool apart

9. Cork Stool Concept

Made from cork, this minimalist stool concept is designed to offer you a sustainable seating solution, that reduces waste by converting two stools into one single bench, and then back again, as and when needed. It is like an “unknown” stool design, but it features a modular nature which leaves it interestingly open to interpretation and implementation.

Why is it noteworthy?

The design has a core element of a sturdy column of cork, which functions as a single cylinder, and forms the center of the stool. However, a smaller circle connects it to the removable seat with a hole in its center. It functions as a simple system that doesn’t need any extra parts or screws.

What we like

  • The seats can be changed or replaced without throwing away the cork

What we dislike

  • The bench variant will occupy substantial space in your home

10. Vale Collection

Named the VALE collection, this range of eco-friendly chairs and stools by Layer was designed for the US furniture brand KFI Studios. The furniture is made from recycled PET bottles and was created to protest against the plastic waste that often drowns and pollutes the oceans and landfills.

Why is it noteworthy?

The innovative collection is designed to be an eco-friendly and sustainable solution to the rising issue of plastic waste. The furniture is a refreshing change and an excellent specimen of sustainable furniture, in today’s world when 9 million tons of furniture are thrown in landfills.

What we like

  • The furniture is made using a material derived from recycled PET bottles. The material is durable and eco-friendly

What we dislike

  • The looks of the chairs and stool are a bit boring, more aesthetic details could have been added

The post Top 10 Sustainable Stools To Incorporate Eco-Friendly Furniture Designs In Your Home first appeared on Yanko Design.

10 Best Stools Designs To Add To Your Home ASAP

I’m at a point in my life where I’m team stools over chairs, and I truly believe stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable. And, we’ve put together a collection of stool designs that not only provide a healthy seating experience while promoting a good and stable posture but most of them are created from sustainable materials as well. From a minimal stackable stool with slim wooden legs to a portable stool made from electronic waste packaging – these well-designed stools are the furniture pieces you need to add to your home.

1. Drum Stool

Called the Drum Stool, this minimal, stackable, and sustainable stool looks like an adorable little wine cork at first glance! But as you dig deeper, you realize it has much more to offer.

Why is it noteworthy?

Teixeira picked materials such as cork and wood to build the stool, instantly rating it high on sustainability. Cork was used to create the seat, while wood was the leg material.

What we like

  • The stool features a round trimmed surface that offers it a fun and playful shape
  • The trimmed seat is paired up with slim wooden legs, creating a cohesive and harmonious furniture piece

What we dislike

  • We’re not sure how comfy the trimmed cork seat would be to sit on for longer durations of time

2. EDGAR Stool

Dubbed the EDGAR stool, this concept for a portable stool is designed to be something functional while also using a minimum amount of resources in terms of the material used for it, the energy required to create it, and the cost of making it.

Why is it noteworthy?

What makes this stool super cool is that they only spent $0.29 in making the prototype of these stools! The stool is low-cost since it is made from waste from the packaging of electronic appliances and adhesives. It handles one of the biggest waste issues!

What we like

  • Lightweight and easy to carry around

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t seem like the best option if you have a pretty round derriere

3. Stump Recycled Stool

Derlot designed the original Stump stool a while ago, and now they’ve unveiled their latest Stump Recycled which features the same basic structure of the stool but is made from 80% recycled post-industrial plastic LPDE.

Why is it noteworthy?

The new Stump stool features a different design, as the patterns form a terrazzo-like design that offers the stool a textured and colored look. You can pick stools with a kaleidoscope-like finish, which provides a fresh interpretation of how recycled materials can be used to elevate a design.

What we like

  • Provides a new take on how recycled materials can be used

What we dislike

  • Not sure how long you can sit on the stool, since it’s quite small and doesn’t look too comfy

4. The +52 Stool

After extensive research on the current timber designs and manufacturing, Studio Plastique converted all this knowledge into a unique wooden step stool called the +52 stool.

Why is it noteworthy?

This stool isn’t just furniture, it was designed to be a ‘scenario’, which represents the potential of undervalued wood types as sustainable alternatives to typical wood types. It is produced using a variety of non-commercial woods such as elm, koto, willow, acacia, and birch which changes the weight, color, and texture of the stool.

What we like

  • Designed to tackle the complete lack of awareness surrounding lesser-known wood species that aren’t used in the design world

What we dislike

  • Has a raw and rustic look, which isn’t preferred by everyone

5. S1 Stool

Designed by Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain for the furniture brand Derlot, the minimalist and simple S1 stool doubles up as a handy side table!

Why is it noteworthy?

The stool/side table has a simple form that is inspired by an I-beam, which is a structural member with an I-shaped cross-section. The S1 stool is ideal for both indoor and outdoor use, owing to its versatile form and universal design.

What we like

  •  Available in three heights to maximize its versatility

What we dislike

  • Aesthetics are simple and unassuming

6. Arc Stool

Called the Arc Stool, this furniture design is simple and thoughtfully designed to add a plethora of elegance and personality to your home.

Why is it noteworthy?

The Arc Stool is designed to elevate and upgrade the mundane stool, and it is a signature piece of the inaugural collection by US Studio Juntos. It attempts to add a much-needed flair to the simple stool design.

What we like

  • Features a dipped surface that provides comfort to the user
  • Portable and easy-to-move design

What we dislike

  • No options for customization or personalization

7. Superpop Tables

Dubbed the Superpop tables, these colorful tables feature terrazzo-like surfaces that have been made from recycled plastic. They were designed by Paolo Cappello for Miniforms.

Why is it noteworthy?

The tables are super versatile, and what’s even more interesting is that they can be used as coffee tables, side tables, or even stools! They are sustainable, versatile, lightweight, and fun.

What we like

  • Versatile functionality with a universal appeal
  • Brings a fun and festive atmosphere wherever they are placed

What we dislike

  • Could be difficult to match them with the interior styles of different homes

8. Balanco Stools

Designed during the pandemic, the Balanco stools are inspired by rocks and boulders, and they’re meant for adults and kids to play and engage with.

Why is it noteworthy?

The idea for the Balanco stools came from the Japanese practice of stacking pebbles to create towers. Traditionally, the pebbles mostly consist of rounded forms, designers Lisa Lai and Joel Wong decided that chiseled rock-like shapes would create more visual dynamism while offering a variety of flat surfaces that are ideal for stacking and layering.

What we like

  • Extremely light
  • Inspired by rocks and boulders

What we dislike

  • Made from felt, there is a higher chance of staining this design

9. The Tie Stool

Dubbed the Tie Stool, this stunning stool is made from three bent plywood that effortlessly locks into one another, creating a unique tripod form that is quite comfy to sit on. It is a simple stool made using minimal materials making the stool quite a beauty.

Why is it noteworthy?

The three plywood strips can be split into 6 total parts, forming individual parts that are built using high pressure, causing the plywood to bend and retain its shape. The cutting processes are performed on the parts allowing them to interlock into one another.

What we like

  • Flat-packed and shipped to customers
  • Features a stackable form

What we dislike

  • Its compressed design means it needs a tabletop to add more space on the stool

10. The Rook Stool

Named the Rook Stool, this unique stool is inspired by chess pieces. It is available in three types of solid wood and has an intriguing similarity to the pieces you find on a chess board.

Why is it noteworthy?

The designer drew references from the shapes of decorative wooden chess pieces for the Rook Stool. The stool utilizes simple elements that have been placed at unusual but intriguing angles and intersections to create a sculptural appeal.

What we like

  • Available in three kinds of wood, so you can choose

What we dislike

  • Doesn’t look too comfy to sit on for long durations of time

The post 10 Best Stools Designs To Add To Your Home ASAP first appeared on Yanko Design.

The +52 Stool Explores Lesser-Known Wood Types As Sustainable Alternatives To Commercial Wood Species

Have you joined team stools over chairs yet? Well, if you haven’t then it is high time that you should! I truly believe stools deserve to be given way more credit than they get. Stools are often overlooked, maybe because they occupy minimum space, and aren’t really overbearing. But these traits are what make stools so great in my opinion! I mean, they’re compact, and a great space-saving furniture option for our modern homes. They are also super portable. And, a great stool design to add to your home would be the +52 stool!

Designer: Studio Plastique

Based in Brussels, Studio Plastique conducted extensive research on current timber designs and manufacturing and transformed that knowledge into a wooden step stool. Dubbed +52 stool, the furniture piece isn’t simply considered as furniture, the studio sees it as a ‘scenario’, via which the scope and potential of undervalued wood types as sustainable alternatives to the typical wood types can be explored and looked deeper into.

The +52 stool is produced using a variety of non-commercial woods such as elm, koto, willow, acacia, and birch which changes the weight, color, and texture of the stool. The stool was created by Studio Plastique as a solution to the overexploitation of forests that occurs currently in the wood production industry. The stool aims to tackle the complete lack of awareness surrounding lesser-known wood species that aren’t used in the design world.

“With +52 we would like to contribute to an alternative perspective on wood scenarios,” said the studio. “Through our collaborations with stakeholders in the field, we aim to highlight these problematics on the one hand, and on the other propose diversified scenarios.”

The +52 stool is manufactured in varying thicknesses to provide it with structural stability irrespective of the kind of wood it is made from, in turn, offering strength and functionality no matter what. The stool makes for an excellent fit for both casual spaces, as well as more formal spaces since it is a versatile and durable furniture piece that can merge harmoniously with contemporary spaces. The aesthetic of the stool is modern and minimal, and it would complement other furniture pieces well, without creating a stark contrast.

The post The +52 Stool Explores Lesser-Known Wood Types As Sustainable Alternatives To Commercial Wood Species first appeared on Yanko Design.

This Adaptable + Minimal Furniture Collection Is The Future Of Seating In Schools & Offices

Having the right seating solutions in offices and schools is of utmost importance. We spend a lot of time on it, completing our tasks, working away to glory, or sitting through tedious classes if we’re still in school. An excellent seating design is of course, comfortable and ergonomic, but also able to add some personality and spunk to a space. It functions as a great spot to not only complete your work but also lounge about a bit, and have a quick chat with your co-workers and friends. And, one such seating option to consider is the Plega Seating Collection by Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot.

Designer: Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot

Designed by Australian designer Alexander Lotersztain for Derlot, the Plega seating collection includes a range of stool and benches that perfectly combine acoustic properties with adaptable seating, to work efficiently for work and school environments. The Plega stools and benches are made using a thick felt sound-dampening panel which is called Autex Acoustics’ CubeTM material. The collection is built using an attractive yet functional design that can be folded and slotted together from a flat-pack format.

The stool and benches have a cuboidal form which allows them to be used as flexible furniture items in dynamic settings. The lightweight seating designs can be bundled together to support team meetings and huddles. The aforementioned CubeTM panels are built using compressed polyester felt with 60 percent recycled content. The entire collection is awarded with certifications by WELL, LEED, Green Star, and BREEAM for the collection’s high environmental performance.

“Beyond sustainability, these stools and benches encapsulate a harmonious blend of adaptability and form, catering to the dynamic requirements of educational and corporate spaces,” said Derlot. The varied PLEGA stools and benches are available in a collection of soft and pastel colors that won’t command too much attention. They’re available in both adult and kid sizes, making them ideal for offices and schools. PLEGA is designed to be the future of seating in contemporary schools and offices. The collection has a minimal and clean form, making it appropriate for such spaces, and allowing the furniture pieces to harmoniously merge with such environments.

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