The Timeless Chair: A Tale of Legacy and Sustainability
In the heart of New York City, nestled among the towering skyscrapers, is the National History Museum, a sanctuary for History and Nature. It was here that I stood mesmerized before a massive slice of a tree. Each ring told a story, marking significant events from before the Crusades entered Jerusalem (1066 AC) to even far beyond the end of the Second World War, a testament to time's passage. This tree had witnessed centuries, its lifespan dwarfing any human creation.
My thoughts drifted to the disposable culture of modern society, a stark contrast to the tree's enduring presence in that Museum. In my parent's home, a cabinet my mom inherited from my grandparents still stands proudly - a small symbol of durability and history. Yet, cheap, short-lived furniture in my own apartment seemed to be the norm for many years. An incident with my MacBook and a flimsy coffee table had underscored this reality. In my apartment back then, an incident vividly highlighted the poor quality of modern furniture. My Macbook dropped on a coffee table and left a sizable gash in the wood while the laptop remained unscathed. A clear testament to the table's quality craftsmanship from the big family store, we all love spending our family Sundays at.
Fast Forward to one crisp autumn day, as my friend, as I proudly say, a skilled furniture maker, and I drove through the scenic forests of Fontainebleau, France. An idea began to take shape. Inspired by the endurance of the tree in the Museum and the inherited cabinet, we envisioned furniture that defied trends, a rebellion against the transient nature of modern design.
"The Timeless Chair," we mused. "A chair that's not bound by styles or trends but built to last, both in durability and aesthetics." The more we talked, the more our eyes lit up. "A chair that could outlive us, where each scratch and mark builds character, rather than the end, ready to be replaced by another hardly used, temporary object called furniture."
We continued debating and selecting materials for their beauty and ability to endure and brainstorm historical designs, understanding that the key to timelessness lies in simplicity and functionality.
The creation, "The Timeless Chair," should be a marvel of craftsmanship. A multifunctional item made from sustainably sourced wood, it is sturdy yet elegant in the living room. Its design must be simple, far away from mass production trends and live, laugh, and love designs. The clean lines should remain stylish through the ages.
My friend envisioned the chair had to become as old as the original tree took to grow. Making a piece of furniture that can last as long as it takes for a new tree to grow, now that is circular economy. Making sure we can give back what we initially consumed. The idea was so simple yet seemed impossible to realize; the timeless chair had become a thing during our trip.
The chair captures the imagination of a new generation. It isn't just a piece of furniture but a statement against the throwaway culture. Each chair should be born with a "passport," detailing its origin and the age of the wood, you know, like a library book. A space for owners to record their own stories, envisioning it as an heirloom to be passed down. How the chair will finally look and what curves and colours it has remains to be determined. One thing I can share is that the chair will be there someday.
