Jia Cing, Qian Han and Shang Zhe · CLIENT: Tainan University of Technology/Product Design Deparment
Matweave is an outdoor bench made from hand-woven microcrystalline wood. The bench has a fluid, curved form created by heating the material and shaping it in a mold under high pressure. The woven surface gives natural support and a comfortable seat. Microcrystalline wood is water resistant and corrosion resistant, so the bench can remain outdoors in harsh weather. The layered surface interacts with light and adds visual and tactile interest. The bench is light in weight, needs no assembly, and is cleaned with a damp cloth.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Matweave Bench features hand-woven microcrystalline wood with a unique texture and fluid form. Heated and shaped for a soft, natural curve, it challenges the perception of rigid wood. Designed for outdoor durability, it is waterproof, corrosion-resistant, and withstands harsh weather. Its layered material interacts with light, offering a sensory blend of nature and technology, enhancing both visual and tactile experiences.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 185mm x Depth 60mm x Height 45mm
- Tags
- Microcrystalline wood, weaving, bending, seat design, outdoor, product design, material application
- Production Technology
- When producing this work, we make full use of the unique characteristics of microcrystalline wood to make it plastic by heating, so that it can be adjusted in shape. Then, we combine the mold and high-pressure process to make the material mold a stable and design-like structure after pressure and finally present the ideal shape and texture. This production method not only shows the plasticity and ductility of microcrystalline wood but also ensures the stability and beauty of the finished product.
- Design Challenge
- Due to the need for hot pressing and forming, the material must be quickly put into the mold and exert sufficient pressure after heating to ensure the forming effect. High-quality molds can improve the fineness of pressing and make the finished product look better. However, due to budget constraints, the overall aesthetics may be affected.
- Project Duration
- The project was started in July 2024, completed on March 2025, first debut in Tainan Mitsukoshi Department store in March 2025.
- Operation Flow
- It is actually very simple to use Matweave Bench. The chair itself is lightweight and can be carried directly to the outdoor space you want to place, such as courtyards, balconies or parks. After placing it, the chair can be used directly without additional assembly or adjustment. The braided design of the chair surface provides natural support and a comfortable sitting feeling. After sitting down, you can easily relax your body along the streamlined outline of the chair. In terms of cleaning, you only need to simply wipe the dust or dirt on the surface with a wet cloth. It is also very convenient to maintain at ordinary times. No special maintenance is required. Even if it is outdoors for a long time, it can still maintain good condition and beauty.
- Research
- This research takes microcrystalline wood as the main material, explores the possibility of its application in outdoor furniture, and creates an outdoor seat Matweave bench with a sense of natural flow through weaving and thermoplastic molding techniques. During the research process, experiments were carried out on the flexibility, weather resistance and plasticity of microcrystalline wood to verify the feasibility of its suitability for outdoor environments. By combining natural elements and ergonomics, a chair with both structural beauty and practical functions is designed, so that the product can not only integrate with the natural environment but also provide users with a comfortable sitting feeling. The final results prove that microcrystalline wood has the potential to extend to outdoor furniture and space design.
- Inspiration
- We hope to use the new material of microcrystalline wood to explore how to combine natural texture with hand-woven to design an outdoor seat with both functionality and aesthetics. Through weaving and thermoplastic techniques, the wood presents a natural flowing form, and at the same time has practical characteristics such as weather resistance and comfort. I hope that "MatWeave Bench
" is not only a seat, but also can become an outdoor space, integrated with the environment, full of vitality, - Image Credits
- Image/Photo: Jiacing Tu, Qianhan Chen, Shangzhe Cai, Hsinyu Li
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