Flexible Fabric Could Be Furniture of the Future

Are you looking for a new seat to really tie your living room together? A collaboration between Studio Jonathan Radetz and the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research (WKI) in Germany might have what you need: LinumTube, an innovative seating solution developed for the circular economy.

This modular furniture system addresses the common issue of products breaking during moves by offering a design that is easy to assemble, disassemble, and transport.

The collaboration’s design comprises only two primary components: a steel tube substructure and a multi-layer flax fibre cover. Utilising a “plug-in” principle, the steel components slide together without the need for adhesives, bolts, or complex instructions.

The flax fabric, woven in one piece at Fraunhofer WKI using a double-rapier machine, features integrated channels that fit directly over the tubes. This creates a stable, self-supporting structure through tension.

Sustainability is central to the design; the non-destructive disassembly enables materials to be easily separated and fed back into established recycling cycles. The system is also highly flexible, allowing users to rearrange components to convert a chair into a bench or sofa.

Despite its minimalist nature, the furniture offers aesthetic variety with multi-coloured fabrics, optional fringes, and even integrated lighting.

Although still a research project, LinumTube has been showcased at international design fairs as the team explores future industrial production.

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