ranchuan is an art-nouveau-inspired armchair formed by a single continuous curved line

thailand-based designers apiwat chitapanya and nuttapong chaorenkitivarakorn collaborated to design ranchuan armchair, an art-nouveau-inspired piece with long organic lines from the tip of the legs to the top of the backrest. the inspiration came from the ‘ranchuan’ soup which was unique in flavor and only served to royals. thus came the idea of designing a chair that captures attention with its enticing charm, just like the soup.

all images by teerachai suksawas and nuttapong chaorenkitivarakorn

apiwat chitapanya and nuttapong chaorenkitivarakorn initiated the ranchuan armchair under style bangkok collaboration 2020 with the sponsorship of the department of international trade promotion (dipt). the designers were influenced by the long organic lines of the art nouveau period. the design of the chair leads the eye through the single continuous curved line from the tip of the leg, curved up all the way to the tip of the back. the line continues around to the other side which ultimately hugs the sitter and curves down to the tip of the adjacent leg.

the use of the single curved line brings a breeze to the chair, relaxes the eyes creating a graceful, elegant armchair. the pattern of the backrest is similar to that of a big artwork with the weaving technique. the designers used two different tones of color on the same piece of fabric with the interlocking woven technique to create captivating dimensions. the designers believed that adhering to one’s culture is also an integral part of adding value to a product so they used the traditional method of brass casting that has been used for hundreds of years. this method of casting requires skilled craftsmanship, as well as professionals in smock weaving in order to produce beehive weaves that were popular back in the 18th century.

the armchair is made of waterproof fabric making it easier to maintain and stretchable according to the user’s needs. it is simple yet elegant making it easy to place in private spaces as well public ones especially with its hugging and curved back that gives the sense of privacy. if the customer is looking for a muted piece, the armchair exists in black as well as other different colors to adhere to different tastes.

project info:

name: ranchuan/ armchair

designers: apiwat chitapanya/ nuttapong chaorenkitivarakorn

photography: teerachai suksawas and nuttapong chaorenkitivarakorn

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: yasmina karam | designboom