ruhrgebiet stuhl

2016

Beneath the ashes of a dying industry, deep in the heart of North West Germany, the ‘Ruhrgebiet Stuhl’ pays homage to the industrial past.

From the derelict empty mine shafts and abandoned machinery, life continues to burst through the rusty cracks of an industrial era that once provided power on an epic scale.

The Chair represents a true reflection of the Ruhrgebiets identity. It bares nuances of the coal miners & steel workers through to the structures that bore the intensity of hard labour.

The chair is made entirely from up-cycled material scrap. A steel bar was bent into shape to form the chairs structure. The chairs back support taper was inspired by the vast chimneys that dominate the Ruhrgebiets horizon.

The patchwork denim pattern mimics the steel construction of the factories and the many steel framed sculptures that scatter the area today.

The denim itself symbolises the material past workers used for their work gear and the high-vis represents the increase in safety within the work place environment. A far cry from the dangerous conditions the workers were subjected to in the past.

The seat cover is held in place by the buckle and button sections that were salvaged from the Denim trousers used for the patchwork.

The lamp was made from an old miners helmet, cut in half and designed to be used as a reading lamp.

The snake neck of the lamp can be easily adjusted and the clip of the light can be attached to the chairs frame and re-positioned to suit the readers preference.