urethane rubber oozes from donghoon sohn’s sponge furniture like cream from a cake

roll furniture series draws on the art of cake icing

The Roll furniture series by Korean designer Donghoon Sohn emerges as an exploration of the impact of force on the elasticity of sponge. Drawing inspiration from the art of icing cakes where spreading cream creates an interplay of surface textures, Sohn applied this concept to repurposed waste sponges from discarded sofas which were damaged by his dog. From chairs and stools to multi-seater sofas, the series comprises playful furniture objects composed of stacked U-shaped volumes from which urethane rubber, which serves as an adhesive, reacts to the bending elasticity of the sponge and applied pressure, oozes between the cracks like the cream of a roll cake.

donghoon sohn gives new life to sponge waste

Using sponge and urethane rubber, Donghoon Sohn encapsulates the adaptability of sponges, allowing for easy modifications and yielding to bending and pressure. By shaping the materials into U-shaped configurations, the designer conceives unique voluminous forms that ensure comfort and functionality while creating a distinct aesthetic.

Utilizing urethane rubber with a hardness of 60, Sohn ensured not only a durable finish but also enhanced the furniture’s overall sensory experience. This material choice, combined with the stacked, curving contours, invites a visual celebration of colors as the urethane cream seeps through the gaps and highlights the artistic nature of the furniture.

project info:

name: Roll series
designer: Donghoon Sohn

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.