ryota akiyama repurposes urethane foam into primitive, rock-like objects

rocky collection by ryota akiyama

Mashiko-based designer and artist Ryota Akiyama presents ROCKY, a collection of furniture objects made of urethane foam. By tearing up and applying a special paint to the material, Akiyama creates a rock-like series of blocks recalling a chair, table, and bench. While retaining the impression of a primitive rock surface, the softness of the urethane foam stimulates the user’s visual and tactile sense. ‘Rocks have different expressions when they are broken, depending on their formation process and environment. It is the history contained in rocks, and information that allows us to learn about past eras,’ shares the designer. 

all images courtesy Ryota Akiyama

tearing up and painting urethane foam as furniture blocks

The distinctive silhouette and texture of each design object shaped by Ryota Akiyama (see more here) is based on several factors — namely the amount of force used when breaking the urethane foam and the individual differences in the cavities that occur when making the foam. By restoring the cross-sections to their original shapes, or changing the way they are stacked and arranged, they can be used as fixtures or benches, and by changing the composition, Akiyama can create functional objects like chairs.

ROCKY chair made of urethane foam

creating a primitive-like object, rich in texture

alluding to how rocks have different expressions when they are broken

close-up shot of the rugged texture

deployment state

process of breaking urethane foam

painting process

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original condition

project info:

name: ROCKY
author site: Ryota Akiyama | @ryotaakiyama01

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: lea zeitoun | designboom