India-based architecture and design agency blurck launched its first line of chairs at the London Design Festival, dubbed Tula chairs. ‘Tula’ comes from Sanskrit and means ‘equilibrium’ and ‘balance.’ The chairs are inspired by Kath-Kuni – an indigenous construction technique prevalent in the isolated hills of northern India that observes alternating layers of stone and wood – to showcase a balance between two distinctive materials.
Made in collaboration with multidisciplinary design practice Dasein Lab, Tula chairs embrace the principles of ethical sourcing and circular economies, making them more authentic and eco-friendly. Each Tula chair is made from reclaimed scaffolding planks from London, interconnected with locally sourced stone in Delhi, creating screwless and flat-pack chairs. The furniture also pushes the limitations of materials and restores them with minimal intervention.
Kund slate is used to build the base of the chair, a stone found in Rajasthan and Haryana, India. This fine-grained stone is a metamorphic rock that is traditionally used for flooring and roofing. This Kund slate is used as a wedge at the base and seat of the chair as a locking mechanism.
Reclaimed timber has been used in the construction of the rest of the chair. Originating from European Whitewood and known for its high fiber strength, the wood planks are cut into standard size, 1 inches thick and 8 inches wide.
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The boards are seasoned naturally with constant use. The Tula chairs are intricately designed, keeping the given properties and measurements in mind, ensuring the juxtaposing materials remain in place and don’t slip.
To further hold the pieces in place, the builders use tension cables that provide the two materials with balance and stability, adding the industrial touch. This act of offsetting creates playful and imaginative furniture that would blend in the living spaces with minimal aesthetics. The construction of Tula chairs pays homage to the transcendent beauty of traditional construction techniques with a modern sensibility.
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