Transforming Cardboard into Functional Furniture: A Stunning Display

Gallery Fumia in Mayfair, London is currently hosting an exhibition of innovative furniture by British designer Max Lamb. The remarkable aspect of this collection is the use of cardboard as the primary material for chairs and tables. The "Box" collection is a result of Lamb's reluctance to discard cardboard boxes accumulating in his studio. Inspired by the beauty found in discarded items, Lamb has transformed these boxes into functional and aesthetically pleasing furniture pieces.

Although cardboard is commonly known as a cheap and disposable material, it is now being utilized to construct furniture that is both luxurious and affordable. Many designers are pushing the boundaries by creating eye-catching pieces, while others are embracing its eco-friendly nature as a viable option for furnishing your home.

Cardboard furniture, such as these pieces created by Max Lamb, possesses an intriguing narrative. Prior to this, renowned designers like Frank Gehry have already explored the usage of this particular material.

(Image credit: Thomas Joseph Wright Penguins Egg/Courtesy of Gallery FUMI)

Lamb skillfully manipulates lamb cuts, folding, assembling, and layering cardboard boxes. Additionally, the artist employs the material to create captivating layers of paper maché. The outcome is a captivating assortment of furniture that preserves the essence of cardboard box aesthetics and cubist forms, while incorporating unexpected sculptural molding, compositions, and earthy paints.

Although commonly perceived as delicate, these pieces are engineered to withstand everyday use. Lamb achieves their durability by building up layers of impact-resistant corrugated cardboard and utilizing a wheat and water mixture as a strong adhesive.

This designer is transforming balloons into exquisite pieces of furniture. Lambs' latest creations are a continuation of the narrative of cardboard furniture, with one of the notable early examples being Frank Gehry's renowned 1972 "Wiggle Side Chair" from his "Easy Edges" series. Gehry's exploration of the inherent strength and artistic possibilities of layered corrugated cardboard deeply influenced Lamb during his student years. In fact, Lamb's passion for the medium led him to create a cardboard table in 2000, a piece that his parents still use to this day.

Renowned architect Shigeru Ban utilized cardboard as a medium for his furniture designs, building upon his successful implementation of the material in innovative architectural projects. His "Carta" collection (1998-2015) featured chairs, a stool, a chaise longue, and a table crafted from slim cardboard tubes that were treated with resin to ensure waterproofness. Ban introduced a combination of traditional elements, such as birch plywood and glass, to complement the cardboard components.

Beginning in 2020, Berlin-based Ukrainian artist and designer Ilya Goldman Gubin ventured into enhancing misshapen cardboard boxes through the application of resin and fiberglass. These transformed creations took the form of distinctive seats, tables, and shelves, forming the ongoing "Karton" series. Gubin embarked on this artistic exploration in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, aiming to blur the boundaries between art and functional objects. In an email, Gubin expressed his desire to incorporate a new dimension into his art that would be more accessible, allowing people to interact with his creations without restriction.

A cardboard bed base from "Room in a box".

Chris Abatzis/Courtesy Room in a Box

Gubin fondly recalls his childhood days of playing with cardboard boxes, using them to construct imaginary houses and cars. He believes that cardboard possesses a simple yet unique charm, as everyone has held a cardboard box at some point. With his project, Gubin aspires to give these boxes a new purpose - the ability to provide support. He aptly describes the concept as "what we once carried, can now carry us."

Each piece is one-of-a-kind, with the artist using the weight of his body to shape the boxes into unique crumpled forms. Despite their appearance as glossy sculptures, the boxes double as functional seats or tables. "Although they may appear delicate, they are actually sturdy," explained Gubin. "I aimed to create something that would surprise the viewer."

Transitioning from the thought-provoking to the practical, the Room in a Box brand, established in 2013, provides affordable and eco-friendly cardboard furniture. Made with durable corrugated cardboard, the German brand assures customers that their products, including bed bases, chairs, and tables, can last up to 10 years.

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Room in a Box gained popularity on TikTok last year, with cardboard furniture videos amassing over 2.4 million views. The brand resonates with a youthful audience that values mobility and seeks lightweight, easily portable alternatives, while also being conscious of the negative environmental effects of "fast furniture".

According to co-founder Gerald Dissen, Room in a Box's pieces are significantly more environmentally-friendly compared to traditional furniture. This is due to the recycled and recyclable material used, along with the lightweight construction and modular format, which result in lower carbon footprints and reduced energy consumption.

Illya Goldman Gubin strengthens misshapen cardboard boxes using resin and fibreglass.

Phillip Koll

Cardboard's versatile qualities have made it a popular choice for emergency furniture deployment, especially for refugees. In 2011, the French designers NOCC and entrepreneur Julien Sylvain developed the Leaf Bed, a cardboard bed specifically designed for use in refugee camps. This innovative bed features pre-cut panels that are shipped with all the necessary tools and parts for easy assembly. As a result, the camp bed has been successfully utilized by the UN Refugee Agency.

Smurfit Kappa, a cardboard manufacturer involved in producing the Leaf Bed, also collaborated with Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA) in 2017. Their joint efforts resulted in the shipment of aid to refugee camps located on the Lebanon-Syria border. The aid was packaged in cardboard boxes that could be transformed into emergency furniture, providing much-needed assistance to those in need.

Cardboard is commonly utilized as a makeshift emergency shelter on a daily basis. The sight of people using it as insulation or protection in the streets contrasts with Lamb's work of creating furniture pieces in a gallery. Although his creations hold collectible value (prices available upon request), he views the project as a thoughtful examination of being a "producer of stuff." He aims to showcase the enduring beauty of cardboard as a material, emphasizing that it can have a lasting presence in our lives. Rather than disposing of things that are considered less important than our primary possessions, Lamb suggests embracing their longevity.