Redefine Dining Spaces with this Versatile Furniture Collection made from Reclaimed Materials

FDT Bureau

New Zealand design studio Formway re-envisioned the conventional dining room setup with its furniture brand Noho, introducing a collection of tables and chairs designed to accommodate activities beyond dining. Noho’s collection comprises three main pieces: the recently launched Dine table range, the Noho Move chair and the Lightly chair. Know more about it on FURNITURE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY (FDT).

The designs incorporate reclaimed and biobased materials, including recycled fishing nets, discarded carpets and castor-bean bioplastic, leveraging Formway’s expertise in office furniture design. Lessons learned about comfort and durability from crafting office furniture were applied to residential pieces, informed by extensive observation of people in their homes.

Observations revealed that modern dining rooms often serve as informal spaces for remote work, homework, and creative activities. Hence, Formway designed the Noho Move chair as the world’s first ergonomically designed dining chair, encouraging an active seated posture. The chair features a shell seat made of recycled nylon that flexes with the user. The collection also includes the Lightly chair, weighing just 2.75kg and designed for easy movement to facilitate various seating arrangements at home. Its seat is crafted from recycled acrylonitrile styrene acrylate (ASA) plastic, with a lightweight frame made of bio-based nylon derived from castor beans, initially developed for demanding environments like car engines.

According to Noho, this renewable material absorbs a significant amount of CO2 during its growth phase, resulting in a lower carbon footprint compared to fossil-based alternatives, marking a significant achievement in sustainable material development for the furniture industry. Noho’s latest release also is the Dine table range, crafted to complement the chairs. The tabletop is constructed from FSC-certified timber, while the endlessly recyclable aluminium frame emits 75 per cent less carbon compared to industry standards.

Image credit: Noho