Mi Chair: A Sculptural Embrace in Teak

FDT Bureau

Mi Chair, designed by Carola Winnie of Madras Makers, combines hand-bent reclaimed teak, tufted leather and natural latex to create a lounge chair shaped around comfort, craft and climate.

Designed by Carola Winnie, the Mi Chair is a lounge chair that brings together hand-bent reclaimed teak, African wenge, natural latex and full-grain Italian leather. Its hand-tufted cushions, held taut by the solid grains of the bent teak laminated back, create a sense of warmth and comfort. The back and seat have a pronounced split, resembling a torso and hip, held together by a leg-spine made from African wenge.

The separation between the back and seat also responds to the warm climate in which the chair is designed to be used. With varied degrees of warm-to-hot temperatures, the split allows air to move freely without compromising lumbar support. The cushions, made with pin-core latex and hand-tufted leather, provide thermal comfort and allow the material to breathe.

A key feature of the Mi Chair is its bent-lamination process. The teak is first cut into 1 mm veneers, with careful attention given to grain selection and matching. Once selected, the pieces are book-matched before being pasted into a jig. A profile of the teak shell is taken and its negative is used to create a mould. The veneers are then pressed or clamped between the top and bottom sections of the mould and left undisturbed for a day to set into the desired shape.

Once the seat and back have set within the mould, they are removed and shaped to their intended form. The resulting shell has smooth, flowing grains that hold the hand-tufted cushions in place. The cushioned seat and back are fabricated with natural latex, a material that is durable, retains its shape for many years and conforms to the body's contours while providing support. This is enclosed within a full-grain Italian leather hide.

The final assembly brings the seat and back together with the long, sweeping legs made from African wenge. The result is a lounge chair where the curved teak shell, upholstered cushions and structural elements come together as one continuous composition.

The Mi Chair is produced entirely at the Madras Makers factory in Chennai in small batches, with attention to fit and finish. It is also available in an armed version, along with an armless variant of the lounge chair. The Mi Ottoman can be paired with the chair for added comfort.

Madras Makers began in a garage in 2013, when Prem started making a few pieces of furniture for his home in Chennai with one carpenter. The discovery of reclaimed teak from old colonial buildings led to an exploration of the richness of naturally seasoned and dense timber. Carola joined the team after five years of architectural practice, followed by Prashant in 2018. Carola now heads the design team, while Prashant, with a background in mechanical engineering, heads operations.

The practice's spatial sensibilities as architects have influenced its work across woodworking, millwork, kitchens, wardrobes, doors, flooring and bespoke commissions. Its pursuit of deeper knowledge in the craft of woodworking continues through furniture designed to be heirloom-worthy, while ensuring that the knowledge and learning developed through the process are passed down through generations.

Contact Details:
Designed By: Carola Winnie | Madras Makers
Website:  www.madrasmakers.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/madrasmakers/
Phone/WhatsApp: +91 9600050840
Email: carola@madrasmakers.com