The SHRINX Easy Chair, designed by Boris Berlin in partnership with +Halle® for The Cabinetmakers’ Autumn Exhibition 2024, presents a groundbreaking approach to soft seating by challenging traditional furniture design and completely eliminating the use of environmentally harmful polyurethane (PU) foam, which is widely used in the industry.
One of the core objectives of this project was to explore the minimum materials necessary to create a comfortable lounge chair, without compromising on design or comfort. The SHRINX chair achieves this by employing patented textiles with self-supporting properties, replacing the need for foam. This material not only provides the structure needed for comfort but also retains a sleek and sharp upholstery, preserving the aesthetic of a classic lounge chair.
The semi-translucent textile reveals the chair's foamless construction, emphasizing a shift toward sustainable and innovative furniture production. This design choice aligns with an overarching commitment to explore alternatives that reduce environmental impact while maintaining high standards of comfort and functionality.
The Cabinetmakers’ Autumn Exhibition, established in 1981, is a prominent platform for furniture designers and manufacturers to present experimental and forward-thinking works. SHRINX perfectly embodies this spirit by introducing a revolution in upholstered furniture—addressing one of the biggest challenges in the industry: the reliance on PU foam. PU foam, a petrochemical product, is not only difficult to recycle but also emits harmful gases, is flammable, and has a limited lifespan, contributing to environmental waste.
Through the inventive SHRINX chair, Boris Berlin and +Halle offer a compelling solution that redefines the future of upholstery by prioritizing sustainability without sacrificing quality or design.
