discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects

what becomes possible when every material is considered a resource? jan-micha gamer turns a bulky waste leather armchair into a floor basket, a candleholder, a lamp, a fruit basket, a pouf, a picture frame, a cabinet, a carpet, and a table.

Studio JM edited by christina vergopoulou November 2, 2026 3 min

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JAN-MICHA GAMER DISMANTLES ARMCHAIR INTO NINE DOMESTIC OBJECTS

Designed by Jan-Micha Gamer, Raw Material: Armchair, or Armchair as Resource, is a circular design study that deconstructs a single discarded leather armchair into nine distinct functional objects forming a domestic ensemble. Salvaged from municipal bulky waste, the multi-component seating typology serves as a material test case, investigating how complex, heterogeneous consumer goods can be comprehensively repurposed to replace virgin resources without downcycling.

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 1 — nine functional objects made from the material fractions of a single discarded leather armchair, brought together to form a new living environment | all images ©Jan-Micha Gamer

Armchair as Resource project explores circular furniture reuse

The project by designer Jan-Micha Gamer prioritizes material-driven detailing, mechanical separability, and circular cascades. Gamer began by disassembling the chair’s structural core, upholstery layers, and exterior envelope, sorting the timber, metal fasteners, foam, textile webbing, and worn leather hides. Instead of concealing imperfections, the design adapts production processes around the irregular dimensions and patinas of the recovered feedstock. Joinery solutions prioritize dry, reversible connections over permanent adhesives, and finishes are selected to maintain monomaterial purity for future disassembly cycles. The resulting nine objects—ranging from small tables and storage vessels to adapted fruit baskets lined with reclaimed textiles—demonstrate small-scale decentralized fabrication methods capable of processing non-standardized waste streams into functional domestic products.

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 2 — floor basket — recovered leather is shaped into a floor basket, carrying the material’s creases and traces of use into a new everyday object

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 3 — candleholder — the geometric form of the original beechwood feet is carried into a single candleholder, retaining the character of the original components

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 4 — lamp — layered geometric forms create the lampshade, while a thin fabric covering reveals the texture of the repurposed upholstery batting beneath

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 5 — fruit basket — the distinctive spring geometry and tension of the armchair’s wave springs are translated into a sculptural bowl, joined with screwable stainless-steel connectors

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 6 — pouf — foam layers of different densities converge into a compact, architectural seating piece, with the geometry of the material defining its final form

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 7 — picture frame — wood offcuts frame a print of the original armchair; many pieces remain in their original state, preserving their individual character

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 8 — cabinet — made entirely from greyboard, the cabinet reuses surfaces once covered with foam; adhesive residue and staples remain visible

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 9 — carpet — irregular leather pieces form a shape reminiscent of an animal hide, embracing the material’s traces of use as an aesthetic quality

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 10 — table — a translucent, hard-wearing coating highlights the unusual grain of the armchair’s low-grade frame timber, turning an overlooked material into a defining feature

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 11 — process – applying a suitable coating as part of the finishing process, balancing surface quality, durability and the potential for future material recovery

discarded leather armchair deconstructs into nine functional domestic objects - 12 — disassembly – carefully separating the chair’s layers and components to minimise damage and preserve the material fractions for further use

project info:

name: Raw Material: Armchair / Armchair as Resource
designer: Jan-Micha Gamer | @janmichagamer

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