In the traditional grammar of furniture making, upholstery is an act of concealment. Fabric and foam are typically bound to wooden or metal frames through a hidden architecture of adhesives, staples, and tacks—fasteners that are effective but often render the piece difficult to repair or recycle. London-based industrial design studio Raw-Edges, led by Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay, has introduced an experimental chair that seeks to eliminate these permanent bindings in favor of a simpler, mechanical logic.
The studio’s approach centers on a wooden frame featuring a deep, purposeful notch. Rather than being nailed or glued into place, the upholstered cushion is simply wedged into this gap. The assembly relies entirely on friction to keep the components secure, creating a structural tension that serves as both the functional core and the primary aesthetic detail of the piece.
By stripping away the secondary materials of construction, Raw-Edges highlights a more honest relationship between soft and hard volumes. The design suggests a shift toward modularity, where the lifespan of a piece of furniture isn't dictated by the durability of its glue, but by the simple physics of a well-calculated fit. It is an exercise in material restraint that transforms a basic joint into a focal point of industrial design.
With reporting from Core77.
Source · Core77
