xiao yao by jeff dayu shi merges oriental bamboo chair + western sofa

xiao yao by jeff dayu shi merges oriental bamboo chair + western sofa

the work of jeff dayu shi, founder of dragonfly design center, is focused on exploring the potential of bamboo as a structural material for creating furniture pieces that retain the traditions and craftsmanship of eastern cultures, while expressing a contemporary aesthetic. following the production of the ‘gang rou’ armchair and ‘zhuo ba xian’ table, ‘jun zi’ chair and slowwork, teastyle bamboo collection which respond to this brief, the taiwanese creative presents his ‘xiao yao’ chair.

‘xiao yao’ chair with accompanying ‘zi-zai’ stool and side table

‘xiao yao’ questions the craftsmanship of traditional bamboo furniture, forming a hybrid between eastern and western cultures, as it expresses features of an oriental bamboo chair, while incorporating manufacturing methods applied to the philosophy of western sofas. this is evidenced in the way in which the wooden frame embraces the cotton, duck down-filled soft cushioning, offering a generous place of rest that has a comfortable support for your lower back.

the ‘xiao yao’ chair merges features of an oriental bamboo chair with proportions of a western sofa

striking a linear shape that displays a simplistic form, the ‘xiao yao’ chair projects a balance between ease and function, while challenging bamboo craftsmanship in terms of enhancing the design’s overall structural strength. the construction extends from technical breakthroughs used in ‘gui ming-qi’ and ‘jia ce’ in which bamboo stalks are cut open to enclose another solid layer of the wood to enhance its strength — a development that solved the issue of breakage among traditional arched bamboo furniture. slats of varying lengths and thicknesses make up the seat, with detachable arm rest extension platforms providing ergonomic supports to wrists.

the chair’s structure is comprised of bamboo slats of differing lengths and thickness

accompanying the ‘xiao yao’ chair is the ‘zi-zai’ stool, which has been realized using similar production techniques. envisioned to function both as a seating piece, or as a foot rest, the set is concluded by a side table in which to set items within arms reach.

the chair is built using technical methods employed in ‘gui ming-qi’ and ‘jia ce’ which solves the issue of bamboo breakage

with the conception of this bamboo furniture collection, jeff dayu shi hopes to create a quite and tranquil environment where one can let their guard down, relax and feel truly comfortable.

the design features an arm rest with detachable extension platforms