The project
It is an innovative chair made of 90 % hemp. This will be an iconic object that will invite users to think differently about how things are produced nowadays .
It combines two very innovative materials and processes. Krown grows the chair from hemp and mycelium. And la Gadoue produces unique handmade textiles from hemp and natural rubber. The textile cover will be applied to the chair to bring comfort and make it long lasting. By using these local natural materials and new technics we create a model of production with a reduced environmental impact.
Storytelling
THE IDEA:
Lucid dreaming, or reality?
Grown is a company that grows product. Grows? Yes! “growing “, and not “manufacturing”. By using nature’s old wisdom, actually, the roots of mushrooms. These roots are called mycelium. By mixing mycelium with a natural organic rest stream, such as hemp fibre waste, a so-called substrate is made. This substrate is moulded in any shape, resulting in a solid material: 100% natural, sustainable, and compostable. Time is the main worker, 5 days to make a chair!
THE BIRTH OF THE PROJECT:
As many people do, grown wants to contribute making the big changes that are necessary for the world. With their biotechnology, this is possible.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS:
The product range of Grown consists of many elements, ranging from lamps, to packaging, to building elements. In fact, the mycelium composite resembles Styrofoam with the big difference that the mycelium products are 100% nature.
Early in 2018, Grown designed a lounge chair. But a beautiful and natural upholster was still missing. In the summer, Grown started collaborating with La Gadoue, a textile and material design studio sharing the same values: sustainable, natural and drive for experiment. Not to forget beauty and uniqueness!
THE COLLABORATION:
La Gadoue has this eye for beauty and hands for crafts, they create a unique textile, a natural latex coating on a linen canvas used as a vegetal leather!
The Lucid chair is the result of this collaboration that required a long process of designing, prototyping, going back to the drawing table. At the end of 2019, the result was there: a mycelium-based chair and an original upholstery.
By working together, Grown and La Gadoue realised that a combination of technology and design requires an intricate dialogue that should be started from the beginning. Design is not a pretty touch that you can add in the end of the process. And nature’s technology holds secrets as well… So, to make a beautiful and good product, everything must be done together hand in hand.
THE FUTURE:
The result of the collaboration is a unique lounge chair, called Lucid. Lucid is the one of the first physical proofs of what is possible to do with biotech and design. This masterpiece will be introduced after the summer of 2020. Lucid will be available through the website of Grown and selected resellers around the world.
THE MESSAGE:
It is the hope of Grown and la Gadoue that Lucid will allow people to take a convenient relaxing moment. To contemplate what the world really needs. To realise that nature holds so much wisdom that we do not yet know. To ignite ideas how the world can become more sustainable.
- Project locations
- NetherlandsBelgium
- Projects Edition
- WORTH Partnership Projects I
- Project Call
- 2nd Call Projects
- Project Sector
- Furniture, home decoration, interior design and architecture
- Project Challenge
- Circular Economy
Contact
Krown Design
KROWN DESIGN It is a Dutch company working with mycelium. A microorganism which is the root structure of fungi. They grow them in a mould to make beautiful products in organic forms.
- Name
- Krown Design
- Postal address
Netherlands
La Gadoue Atelier
LA GADOUE produces objects that reconnect people to materials, connecting craft and industry by reinventing techniques and processes. The company wants to use their expertise in textiles as alternatives to plant leather and have developed a natural latex coating from the sap of the hevea tree.
- Name
- La Gadoue Atelier
- Postal address
Belgium