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The humble stool, often overlooked, is undergoing a design revolution. More than just a place to sit, these innovative seating solutions are challenging conventions and pushing the boundaries of sustainability and functionality. This article explores groundbreaking stool designs that prioritize material innovation, modularity, and circularity, showcasing how a simple object can become a powerful statement about responsible design.

Dice, the multifaceted creation of Swiss studio Kosmos Architects, embodies the spirit of versatility and adaptability in modern design. More than just a stool, coffee table, lamp, or footrest, it is a conversation starter, a piece that challenges our preconceptions of what furniture can be. Its asymmetric design, born from the desire to “unite the qualities of four different basic furniture typologies,” encourages interaction and play, inviting users to discover its myriad functions through simple rotation and repositioning. The name itself, a nod to the numbered cube used in games of chance, hints at the element of serendipity and the ever-changing role this singular object can play in a space.

The construction of Dice is a fascinating blend of cutting-edge technology and traditional craftsmanship. The warm, inviting oak wood frame, characterized by subtle chequerboard patterns, is meticulously CNC-milled from a stack of solid oak pieces using a multi-axis milling machine. This process allows for the creation of complex, three-dimensional forms with precision and efficiency.

However, the robotic arm is only the starting point. The piece is then painstakingly hand-sanded and oiled, ensuring a smooth, tactile surface and highlighting the natural beauty of the wood grain. This combination of automated precision and human touch results in a piece that feels both modern and timeless, celebrating the best of both worlds.

The removable triangular lamp, cleverly integrated into one of Dice’s five legs, adds another layer of functionality and intrigue. Crafted from plastic and protected by frosted glass, the lamp emits a soft, diffused light that creates a warm and inviting ambiance. The cordless design, with its convenient USB charging, allows for unparalleled flexibility in placement and use.

Whether illuminating a cozy reading nook or providing ambient lighting for a gathering, the lamp enhances the versatility of Dice and reinforces its status as a truly multi-purpose object. Furthermore, the ability to suspend Dice from the ceiling as a lamp offers a unique and visually striking alternative to traditional floor or table lamps.

Omi Collective, a Lagos-based design firm, has garnered attention with its innovative Omi Series 2 Stool, which debuted at the 2025 Stockholm Furniture Fair. This six-legged timber stool reinterprets classic African seating designs to resonate with a global audience, exploring the question posed by Omi Collective founder Olorunfemi Adewuyi: “What is an African way of seating – if such a thing exists?” and “If there were to be a stool that was distinctly African yet spoke to a global audience, what might it look and feel like?”

The stool’s design centers around modularity, consisting of three identical hand-turned timber modules connected by steel rods. These modules can be used together, in pairs, or individually, offering versatility based on seating needs. Adewuyi believes this configurability fosters interaction and a sense of community, arguing that the stool’s ability to be shared, disassembled, reassembled, and adapted “naturally encourages community and shared ownership.”

Omi Collective drew inspiration from various traditional African forms. The “scooped out” seating area evokes Ghanian Asante stools and African neckrests, while the “forest of legs” references Nigerian Nupe stools, which often feature multiple supports. The studio adapted granary ladders made by the Dogon people of West Africa – steps carved directly into a single log of wood – in its approach. However, unlike the downward tapered legs of Nupe stools, the Omi Series 2 stool’s legs flare outward, creating a chunky, bulbous form that reinforces its presence despite its low profile. Adewuyi explained they aimed to create “something that feels powerful and present despite its low height, drawing from proportions commonly found in African objects,” hoping to evoke a sense of nostalgia for those familiar with African culture.

The stool’s vivid blue hue is a deliberate nod to the deep cultural significance of indigo and its central role in West African textile production. Timber was chosen not only for its historical significance as a primary material in traditional African objects but also for its malleability, allowing the studio to incorporate hand-carved textures. Adewuyi emphasized that “Timber carving and texturing is a defining feature of age-old African architecture and craftsmanship but also a craft practice slowly fading into extinction,” highlighting the stool’s role in preserving and celebrating these traditional skills.

Developed by Swiss designer Renaud Defrancesco, Briket stool is a compelling example of sustainable design, centered around the innovative reuse of wood waste and a commitment to environmental responsibility. This unique stool, crafted without any chemical additives or metal components, showcases a circular approach to materials, designed for a life cycle that culminates in its use as a renewable energy source. The Briket isn’t just furniture; it’s a statement about responsible consumption and the potential to transform waste into valuable resources.

The ingenuity of the Briket lies in its simple yet effective manufacturing process. Wood waste, specifically sawdust, is compressed with potatoes, a readily available and often wasted byproduct of the food industry. The potato acts as a natural and biodegradable binder, creating a composite material with surprising strength and consistency. This ingenious combination eliminates the need for synthetic adhesives and ensures that the entire stool is fully recyclable, capable of being burned as a clean-burning fuel source for heating.

Inspired by the form and function of wood pellets used for heating, the Briket stool boasts a distinctive nine-legged design. This seemingly unusual construction serves a practical purpose: it allows the stool to be gradually disassembled and burned piece by piece. As the inner legs are removed for fuel, the Briket maintains its structural integrity, continuing to function as a stool until only the outer legs remain. This deliberate design element highlights the project’s core message, transforming the act of disassembly into a conscious and engaging experience.

Beyond its functional and environmental merits, the Briket stool serves as a powerful symbol of circular economy principles and a tangible reminder of the value inherent in discarded materials. By transforming wood waste into a desirable and functional object, Defrancesco challenges our perception of waste and inspires us to reconsider the potential of local, sustainable production. The Briket demonstrates a vision of a closed-loop wood production cycle, where waste is minimized, resources are maximized, and even the end of a product’s life becomes an opportunity for renewal.