fnji's 'iceberg sofa' uses the power of design to raise awareness of melting ice caps

with this sculptural piece of furniture, chinese design brand, fnji, brings attention to rising global temperatures and melting glaciers. using the power of design to give a voice to an urgent environmental issue, iceberg sofa clearly draws inspiration from its namesake with its pale blue interlocking blocks. imploring us to cherish nature before it’s too late, the sofa will be released on september 2020.

iceberg sofa front view

all images courtesy of fnji

inspired by natural icebergs, this latest piece is a continuation of the mountain sofa (2019) of the fnji crestline, which explores the brand’s love of nature while highlighting environmental protection. due to global warming, temperatures in the north and south poles have reached 20 degrees celsius for the first time, causing glaciers to melt. rare animals such as penguins and polar bears have suffered severe damage to their habitats and are on the verge of extinction. at the same time, the melting of permafrost also means that ancient viruses could be released, threatening all animals and human beings. therefore, fnji is attempting to awaken more people’s awareness of environmental protection through design.

iceberg sofa detail

the iceberg sofa is a story about time. the sofa’s well-defined seat surface, backrest and armrests tell about the formation of the iceberg while the solid wood base with specially-shaped curves represents its disappearance. different in shape, independent blocks interlock with each other to form a dynamic assemblage. 

iceberg sofa front view

the sofa imitates the natural form of an iceberg created by wind and frost over thousands of years and applies it to the design. the blocks are shaped like sculptures and provide different looks from different perspectives. six independent blocks collide and interlock with each other to form a sofa that is both uniquely-shaped and comfortable. the solid wood base imitates the ice water from a melting iceberg. 

iceberg sofa back view

the specially-shaped block design brings great technical challenges. fnji returns to the most primitive method and separately processes the internal skeleton and the surface sponge for each surface before assembling them. the entire process requires accurate grasp and application of techniques. 

iceberg sofa side view

fnji selects the multi-purpose wool fabric of kvadrat fiord made of blended and undyed yarns. the visual effect of pearl-like dots on the surface creates the three-dimensional effect of the iceberg sofa. the solemn lines and wool fabric with soft touch intend to create rich feelings when one is sitting on the sofa.

iceberg sofa side view

iceberg sofa detail

iceberg sofa block

iceberg sofa seat

the sofa uses kvadrat fabric

iceberg sofa conceptual poster

project info:

project name: iceberg sofa

design: fnji

size: l / w247 p / d117 h86

timber: black walnut

fabric: kvadrat fiord2 721 ice blue

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.

edited by: lynne myers | designboom