Junha Kahm Reimagines Flat-Pack Seating With a Chair That Fits in a Shopping Basket
Eliminating bulky moving logistics, the entire Facade chair disassembles into ultra-compact components designed to fit inside a single shopping basket.
Summary
Junha Kahm introduces the Facade chair, featuring a permanent stainless steel frame and eight interchangeable PETG panels.
Designed for easy logistics, the entire seating system breaks down into components small enough to fit inside a standard shopping basket.
South Korean industrial designer Junha Kahm introduces a highly flexible seating solution that rethinks how furniture ages with its owner. The Facade modular chair prioritizes longevity through repairable components rather than simply focusing on material sourcing. Its distinct system separates the object into two fundamental elements. A brushed stainless steel tube frame acts as the permanent foundation while eight semi-rigid PETG panels attach via straightforward bolts and threaded inserts.
This approach directly mirrors industrial architecture. The metal framework functions as a core structure while the outer panels serve as replaceable exterior cladding. Users can effortlessly swap out individual sections if they become damaged or if a space requires a completely different aesthetic. Translucent panel options allow the underlying metal to remain visible. Opaque versions dramatically shift the mood of the piece. A warm amber orange configuration channels relaxed terrace seating, whereas crisp white panels deliver a minimal studio look.
Engineering details push the concept beyond a superficial visual exercise. The core utilizes a strict one-to-two proportion ratio that provides distinct visual discipline. Each of the eight panels shares identical symmetry, meaning the top and bottom components mirror each other exactly across both the seat and backrest. This deliberate standardization significantly reduces manufacturing complexity and ensures replacement parts remain genuinely accessible over time.
Precision dictates the structural connections holding the silhouette together. White PETG rounded elbow joints sit at the frame intersections to provide a visual softness that directly contrasts the rigid brushed metal. The rear legs feature a strict 14-degree splay supplemented by slight three-degree and eight-degree variations at other connection points. These calculated angles grant the silhouette a subtle forward lean that feels highly intentional rather than rigid.
Practicality remains at the forefront of the user experience. The entire system breaks down into components small enough to fit inside a basic shopping basket. This compact assembly eliminates the frustrating logistics typically associated with transporting structural furniture. Kahm summarized the overarching modular ethos perfectly in his project notes by describing the versatile chair as having one point, sixteen panels and infinite facades.
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