pentatonic x snarkitecture's fractured furniture reimagines the circular economy

continuing with the technology that brought the brand’s first collection of furniture made from recycled smartphones, bottles and food at the london design festival 2017, pentatonic collaborates with snarkitecture to further the circular economy and its connection with design. through a bench and table combination, the project aims to reinvent the relationship between art, design and materials. both products absorbs and jars simultaneously, transforming from being whole to being broken and back again, much like the recycling process itself.

all images courtesy of pentatonic

‘taking the existing and transforming it into something unusual and extraordinary, and multiplying it thousands or even millions of times. this is what pentatonic does as a core principle. that’s kinda the future,’ says daniel arsham, co-founder of snarkitecture.

the pentatonic x snarkitecture ‘fractured’ bench is set upon the brand’s airtool system structure, with the top offering significant modularity and customization. the design’s seat, which details a new silhouette to the company, is constructed from 25 sheets of fine plyfix – felt that has been made entirely from recycled plastic. these have been pressed into a single 1.5cm thick sheet, before being heatformed into an ergonomically curved, 2-seater bench. pulling its pieces apart, the furniture product transforms into two individual seats.

likewise, the ‘fractured’ table also splits into two pieces via its meandering crack. this feature or division, if you will, was fabricated using automotive-grade, triple-axis CNC machines that has dramatically separated the product with precision and care. with the design then deburred by hand and anodized to deliver a neutral matte finish, its top is available with two options of 3mm inserts: plyfix felt for soft tactility or aluminum for a clean aesthetic.