The South Korean design studio explores the limits of production and manufacturing with a variety of sustainable materials to design furniture, products and spaces. In just three years of existence, founders Hwachan Lee and Yoomin Maeng have collaborated with a wide range of brands and customers, offering diverse designs in the field of three-dimensional design. The Kerf Plastic collection is of particular interest to us. It stems from a more global experimental project entitled World Play, which explores new approaches to materiality and construction.
© Kuo Duo
© Kuo Duo
Here, the design duo use recycled plastic panels and the technique of wood bending to make a chair, an armchair and a bench for Re;code, a Korean clothing brand. “We discovered that this material is very similar to plywood,” explain the designers, “and we tried to apply the Kerf Bending technique, used to bend wood onto a recycled plastic board.” These thick, rigid plastic boards thus become soft and malleable without the use of heat, glue or chemical processes.
© Kuo Duo
© Kuo Duo
Through the versatility and flexibility of this biomaterial, Kuo Duo offers three models finished with vibrant, abstract surfaces that interweave functionality and comfort. In particular, the technique has demonstrated its capabilities on the armrests, backrests and seats of furniture with rounded edges. While the aim is to demonstrate the untapped potential of the technique, the studio’s main aim is to extend it to all kinds of three-dimensional furniture and objects.
South Korea – Seoul