During lockdown 1.0 Studio Argot created a selection of chairs that were designed as a research project, 3D modelled and rendered in far out materials.

Studio Argot reckons that you could probably make these with a CNC machine which is pretty epic. It’s a similar technology that they use to make their 3D printed vases which are highly worth checking out. Each of the forms they’ve designed that make up the chairs could be easily cut and assembled using this process. Nice one guys. ​

Their aim is to produce interesting design that is produced at a local level with a degree of efficiency. A CNC machine is, they say, relatively small and easy to operate. Efficient and transparent costing design pieces can then be produced at a local level whether a micro factory in Paris - where they’re based - or somewhere else.

Chaozhou is a place in China that produces 70% of the world’s porcelain. Studio Bentu developed a material to change the way porcelain is increasing the use of ceramic waste which is smashed and then turned into forms where the old porcelain is still visible.

Made from discarded textiles and clothing felt is strong and resilient, especially when compressed into the desired shape or form. In this case a beautiful chair.

Tasman Glass by Sophie Rowley; molten glass creates a texture mimicking water and ice. Ooooh. It’s cool. Ahem.

Rattan Palm’s structure is kind of like a bundle of tubes. Did you know that the Rattan Palm can transport water up to 200m through capillaries. If we injected these with natural bulking agents (not like chicken breast or whey protein, but possibly a similar kind of bulking) into the Rattan we would be left with a versatile and innovative material. Karuun has done just that.

Not a Ghostface or cocaine reference, SCALITE is made from fish scales. It’s produced in rigid sheets and is 100% natural, containing no chemical additives. Degrades rapidly in the environment and is safe to do so, manufacturer SCALE recycle their production waste too.

Mycelium is really in the ascendency at the moment. It’s the vegetative part of a fungus (where mushroom is the fruit) consisting of branches of hyphae that are basically like little tubes. Binding together with other materials, especially so with other organic materials. Mixing fungus with waste materials like wood chippings results in new production materials that are strong and lightweight, 100% natural and compostable.

Haha. No, we’re talking about the leftover impurities of the smelting process of copper. Stop thinking like a fifteen year old. Anyway, slag in this case is This Is Copper; a very strong black concrete like body made from copper slag with 77% less CO2 than standard cement. Developed by Thus That Studio.

Mieke Meijer made newspaper wood, reversing traditional production process of making paper from wood but, obviously, the other way around. Wow. When a log of it is cut the layers appear like lines of wood grain. It can be cut, milled or sanded like any other type of wood.

An ancient method that’s gone through a recent revival due it’s sustainable nature, this involves compacting a damp mix of sub soil that has the right proportions of sand, gravel, clay and a stabiliser and is then moulded into a form.

An environmentally friendly alternative to MDF, OSB or fibreboards that doesn’t release or contain formaldehyde. ECOboard uses agricultural fibres, residue or by products of harvests to make a product out of something that is usually burned as waste.

For more information and some beautiful looking 3D printed vases check out Studio Argot.