Re-Imagined is a project born out of questioning attitudes towards waste and encouraging more resourcefulness. The project was initiated when an interior design project, requiring a quick solution, led to the repurposing of discarded chairs found in the street. It builds on Studiomama’s interest in expediency and re-using what exists and speaks of our ability to see the potential in the overlooked and unloved.
Studiomama found a pile of disused furniture near our east London studio from which we salvaged a selection of chairs. The chairs were stripped down to their bare frames, which were re-welded, and powder-coated in bright colours. Combining these frames with generously padded seats and backs upholstered in colourful fabrics gave birth to Re-Imagined’s playful and yet minimal aesthetic.
This is not just a sustainable, circular approach to design and making, but a social one too, demonstrating that, through working together and pooling resources and by working with local fabricators and upholsterers, we can Re-Imagine the second-hand and redesign our everyday surroundings.
The Re-imagined Project received coverage from Wallpaper*, FT How To Spend It, Vogue Brazil and Tatler Indonesia to name but a few. The Re-imagined Chair was selected by Dezeen for the Stepney Green Design Collection celebrating local talent and donated to VIVO residents. The project was nominated for 2012 Design of the Year at the Design Museum in London.
https://vimeo.com/dezeen/stepney-green-design-collection-nina-tolstrup