Arts Thread

Utilising low-grade materials, permanent fixtures and high production output, the fast furniture industry produces goods at a competitive price; but this comes at a cost. Astonishingly, the United States Environmental Protection Agency determined that 12 million tons of furniture is disposed of in landfill annually. Therefore, the conversion from a linear to a circular (closed loop) material economy is imperative if we are to sustain our existing consumer behaviours.  In response to this, this research project takes aim at promoting the Circular Economy by developing a product that meets the needs of the user and the requirements of the material recovery process I.e. Separating materials at the end of a products lifecycle. The ‘Assemblage’ Sofa reinterprets conventional sofa construction and employs a gestalt of constitute material components, devoid of irreversible fixings. No specialised tooling is required for assembly. This alleviates pain points of transporting the large furnishing, whilst providing access to convenient component refurbishment/repair. The novel aesthetic encourages inspection and functions to remind us that recovery of these materials are a viable and important act. Instruction Manual Link: https://issuu.com/jackstevens675/docs/instruction_manual_2