The South Korean design studio explores the limits of production and manufacturing with various sustainable materials to design furniture, products, and spaces. In just three years, founders Hwachan Lee and Yoomin Maeng have collaborated with a wide range of brands and clients, offering diverse designs in the field of three-dimensional design. The "Kerf Plastic" collection is of particular interest to us. It stems from a larger experimental project, "World Play," which explores new approaches to materiality and construction.
© Kuo Duo
© Kuo Duo
The design duo uses recycled plastic panels and wood bending techniques to create a chair, an armchair, and a bench for Re;code, a Korean clothing brand. As the designers explain: "We discovered that this material is very similar to plywood and we tried to apply the kerf bending technique, used to bend wood onto a sheet of recycled plastic." These rigid and thick plastic panels thus become soft and malleable without the use of heat, glue or chemical processes.
© Kuo Duo
© Kuo Duo
Utilizing the versatility and flexibility of this biomaterial, Kuo Duo offers three finished models with vibrant, abstract surfaces that blend functionality and comfort. The technique has notably demonstrated its potential for armrests, backrests, and seats of furniture with rounded edges. While the aim is to showcase untapped possibilities, the studio primarily intends to extend this process to all kinds of furniture and three-dimensional objects.
South Korea – Seoul
