This project developed from the frequent questioning towards product designers of "do we need more designs of chairs?". "Saisei" is a response to that question. As we face the pressing issues of the climate crisis as a designer I wanted to re-evaluate what design could provide as a solution.
Inspired by the project "Zenkai house" of architect Katsuhiro Miyamoto which fixed a house damaged by the Hanshin earthquake by creating a new structure to support the internal existing structure, "Sansei" is an alternative mending method constructed from reinterpreted joints inspired by Japanese joinery to build a support for broken chairs. This design plays with two contrasting aesthetics when repairing and bringing visible repair to the forefront.
Each piece is constructed according to the size of the piece of furniture needing repair. The struts are cut from 24mm thickness of ply with a slight angle on one side so that it locks into one another when joints are made. The joint itself is a reinterpreted version of a traditional Japanese joint used to construct houses. Each joint was made using a tenon cutter and band saw. No glue or metal fastenings were used. Finished with a few coats of matt Osmo.
Photo by Moe Asari