Canberra graduate sets her sights on sustainable design.

Christel H is an intrepid traveller.

But while some of us might embark on great adventures to escape everyday work commitments, Christel H’s travels serve as a source of inspiration for her innovative work. 

“My inspirations mainly come from travelling”, says Christel Hadiwibawa, who graduated last year from the Canberra School of Art.

The innovative concept behind the P1 and P2 chairs was one such project that got the blogosphere buzzing – intriguing high backed chairs, made with an unlikely association of materials – bamboo, concrete and plantation timber.

“The inspiration came from my trip to Bali during my Honours year where I visited places around the island that blew me away with how they used bamboo.

“The chairs are inspired by buildings across Asia that use bamboo scaffolding for its properties of strength, flexibility and durability. It identifies ways of using everyday materials to produce a chair that is accessible, comfortable and considers the needs of the environment.”

The strength of each chair is provided through layering thin bamboo strips together to make the most of the material’s flexible properties, which creates a backrest and seat that customises to the unique ergonomics of each body shape.

The use of concrete for the base addressed the functional need for a durable and affordable base, which helps extend the life of the chair as concrete gets stronger with time whilst any damaged bamboo can be replaced.

Christel is currently developing new designs to complete her bamboo series.

Christel H
christelh.com