Fly-Ash Chair

The Fly-Ash Chair is a remedial response to our global energy dependence on coal and the fossil fuel industry. Transferring LEED® certified building methods of construction to product design, this chair offers a functional, elegant solution through recycled coal waste. The honesty of material results in colour and texture variations dependent on the diversity of chemical compounds in each ash sample, giving each chair its distinct, industrial character. The toxic nature of the coal energy production process extends beyond greenhouse gases and CO2 levels – it creates a lesser-known derivative called fly ash in large amounts. Fly ash is typically stored" in ash ponds where it is mixed with water, frequently leading to groundwater contamination and environmental damage. The sheer abundance of fly ash and its chemical compounds makes it a suitable candidate for concrete mixtures in construction. To establish geopolymer composition, fly ash induces a chemical reaction within the concrete mixture, resulting in not only neutralised toxicity but also exceptionally high tensile strength. In addition to surpassing the structural abilities of cement, fly ash concrete is cheaper, uses less water, cures faster, is less permeable, is corrosion resistant and alleviates both the environmental consequences and greenhouse gas emissions of cement production. Fly ash concrete is an increasingly prevalent material in construction and has many more potential applications. Developing new functionality for fly ash in the product design industry allows designers to indirectly recycle the energy by-product of the objects we manufacture, creating physical objects out of the fossil fuels that power our livelihood. The ash volume in each Fly-Ash Chair contains the coal energy equivalent of a 100W lightbulb powered continuously for 115 days. Each chair is an extension of the coal life cycle, creating a sustainable, adaptive and optimistic solution within the furniture design industry. Red Dot Award: Design Concept | Concept | Home Furniture