Mishima Cathedra Otiosa

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Mishima sits in a class of its own as the world’s first custom made carbon fiber lounge chair. No traditional material has before possessed the strength required to hold such weight while remaining in such tranquil balance. The frame itself is a unibody form 3D-printed in continuous carbon fiber composite and free of any joints, bolts, or glue, which bolsters its strength while enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

Dimensions & Packaging

Chair: 556 Mm Wide X 506 Mm Deep X 370 Mm High
Ottoman: 773 Mm Wide X 805 Mm Deep X 764 Mm High

Tags

Lounge chair, carbon fiber, 3D printing, one leg design

Production Technology

Mishima’s frame is 3D printed from thermoplastic carbon fiber composite using a patented process. Our proprietary software engineers the directionality of the carbon fibers before a robotic arm bonds them together with melted polymer to create a strong, streamlined, unibody structure free of joints or bolts. Mishima is completed with a stainless steel base and high-end upholstery made of vionette, mohair wool, or leather customized to suit the design tastes of its owner.

Design Challenge

The asymmetric design requires multidirectional load: flexion back as the user sits back in the chair, torsional stiffness along the sagittal y axis (for swiveling) as well as stiffness along the vertical z axis (so the chair does not bend to the right as a person sits). Traditional thermoset carbon fiber sheets could not afford to meet these requirements in such complex curves. Therefore, the frame is 3D printed with the placement of each carbon fiber engineered by our algorithm specifically to accommodate each of these constraints.

Research

Carbon fiber furniture typically features high tech looks with exposed, woven black carbon fiber. Mishima presents a new approach to carbon fiber furniture. The seemingly impossible single-leg design represents the wonder of modern technology, while the finish and upholstery are fabricated traditionally, and organic curves enhance the sense of comfort. Mishima is a design that evokes contemplation while remaining minimalist and comfortable for inclusion in various settings.

Inspiration

Mishima’s striking form was inspired by a legendary stone chair in the Mishima Grand Shrine where Japan’s first shogun, Minamoto no Yoritomo, contemplated and prayed for an impossible victory for 100 days. As was characteristic of the stone chair, the Mishima lounge chair features a seemingly impossible design. Through its form, Mishima celebrates the resilience with which one can achieve the unimaginable.

Project Duration

The Mishima chair and ottoman were launched in November of 2021. They were first featured at the tech conference, Web Summit Lisbon, and then the frontier materials forum, PuzzleX 2021, in Barcelona.

Operation Flow

Mishima demonstrates a harmony between modern technology and traditional craftsmanship. This asymmetric, gravity-defying design, which was impossible with traditional materials, makes a powerful yet refined statement. The organic curves create a sense of comfort and tranquility, inviting users to relax and drift away in their own contemplation. Mishima can rotate a full 360 degrees around its axis. Owners can customize upholstery materials, colors, and have the option of adding a matching ottoman with up to 186 possible combinations.

Image Credits

Arevo