Mua Lau Butaca

Press Kit

Unique Properties

The Mua Lau is named after a traditional Taiwanese snack which is crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. The chair is designed to provide users with a multi-layered sitting experience that is also crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, similar to biting into a piece of Mua Lau.

Dimensions & Packaging

Width 800 mm x Depth 800 mm x Height 800 mm

Tags

Bamboo, lounge chair, craft, modern, style

Production Technology

The seat is woven using traditional bamboo weaving techniques, using only 12 long bamboo strips to achieve the required size. The double-tube structure inside the seat cushion simulates the effect of double-layer springs, providing a comfortable sitting experience that is firm yet cushioned.
The legs are made of metal elbows that are bent to the desired shape, cut to size, manually welded by a master, and finished with a surface texture that simulates cast iron. The surface is also treated with a thickening agent and powder baking paint for added durability.

Design Challenge

We use the traditional bamboo lady's techniques to form the chair's structure that can support the weight of the human body. However, in terms of material design, the traditional method alone is not strong enough to bear the weight, so we conducted various tests on the material's thickness, length, and other properties. After several iterations, we discovered the optimal size and thickness of the material, allowing us to achieve the unique sitting experience we envisioned.

Research

In this era of rapid depletion of resources, rediscovering sustainable materials is a top priority for modern designers. For this reason, the design chose to rediscover the disappearing bamboo craft, which only takes 3 to 5 years to mature. Bamboo craft is a traditional craft that has been passed down since ancient times. However, after the large-scale introduction of plastic products into daily life, the cheap and mass-produced alternatives quickly replaced bamboo craftsmanship, leading to the decline of the entire industry in Taiwan.

Inspiration

Mua Lau challenges artisans to forge new paths in their craft, to develop novel applications for existing techniques, to bring craftsmanship to life, and to rediscover the connection between humans and materials. Bamboo craftsmanship, in particular, breaks through traditional applications to unlock new possibilities. By combining traditional craftsmanship with modern industry, artisans can infuse modern oriental style with the warmth of their hands and the precision of mechanical manufacturing.

Project Duration

The project started in July 2022 in Taiwan , completed in February 2023, first debut in March and will exhibit in Young Designers Exhibition Yodex in World Trade Center, Nangang exhibition hall, Taipei in May 2023.

Operation Flow

Imagine sitting in a lounge chair that gives you the feeling of being in a bamboo forest, with the breeze gently blowing over your body, allowing your mind to integrate with nature and find a moment of tranquility in our noisy world.

Image Credits

Photographer: CHING CHENG CHANG
Model:Chen zhiyu