Once it's closed up, the cylinder-shaped wall creates a cozy and quiet escape nook separated from the outside world. The sewn ruffles express the protective warmth to hold and envelop the person seated inside.
This design was the first iteration of the Hideaway Chair, which I created in 2016 while studying at Cranbrook Academy of Art. At the time, I had recently arrived from Japan and was adjusting to a new life in the U.S. I often felt unsettled and needed a quiet, personal space to retreat to. This experience inspired the initial concept of designing a piece of furniture that offers a sense of enclosure.
I wanted this piece to be for home environments. Unlike industrial design methods, which often prioritize production efficiency and replicability in a factory setting, I chose a more handcrafted approach to bring this design to life. For example, the sewn ruffles are hand-attached to the interior walls, and the cross-stitched ropes are dyed brown before being tied around each wood pole.
Material
Wool felt, wood, fabric, foam, button
Dimension
W46 x D34 x H59 inch
W117 x D86 x H150 cm
Creation Date
2016
