This project explored the design of adaptable public furniture for outdoor use in the forests of Zürich. Developed as part of a group project, the work combined research, prototyping and construction. The aim was to create furniture that visitors can easily move and rearrange while remaining durable enough for long-term use in a natural environment.
The design process began with research on comfort, material behavior and durability in outdoor conditions. Particular attention was given to how the objects would appear within the landscape and how their form could invite sitting, gathering and flexible use. Through iterative prototyping, the design was refined with regard to construction methods, structural stability and ease of handling.
The final furniture pieces were built and installed on site in the forest, where they became part of the everyday experience of the surrounding landscape. The project explored how full-scale objects function in real contexts and how people interact with public furniture when given the freedom to reposition and use it in different ways.
Within the team, I was responsible for the visual direction of the project. My role included shaping the design language and aesthetic of the furniture as well as producing the project’s video documentation.
https://kaijima.arch.ethz.ch/furniture-the-seedling/
