AL – FORM is a minimalist furniture collection created by Seoul based designer named ‘niceworkshop’ for FORMAT – an Korean upcycling brand that repurposes residual material generated from construction fields into series of practical products.
Hosted at CAPSULE PLAZA within 10 CORSO COMO, this display coincides with Milan Design Week, running from April 16 to April 21, 2024. The collaboration between niceworkshop and FORMAT springs from a shared background in construction and a mutual commitment to sustainability.
My collaboration with FORMAT came naturally as my career started within the context of construction sites. Just as my first furniture series utilized full-threaded bolts, the use of aluminum presented itself with familiarity, inspired by materials and objects that can be found within the physical setting. A shared interest in sustainability helped form this series together, a series that showed various possibilities of raw materials through design.
Oh – niceworkshop
The design process incorporates a cycle of ‘Production, Rental, Repair, Dissolution, and Reproduction.’ The aluminum formwork, often reused in construction, undergoes processes such as shot blasting and flattening to remove residual concrete. This treatment leaves a textured concrete imprint on the surface, which darkens over time with repeated use.
Niceworkshop has harnessed this characteristic in their furniture design, presenting two distinct lines: the ‘Aged Form Line’ which retains the concrete’s textural imprint, and the ‘New Form Line,’ which utilizes freshly recycled materials. The furniture collection includes four types: a lounge chair, a dining chair, a table, and a bench, each embodying the rugged elegance of their construction-derived material.
‘niceworkshop.’ is a Seoul-based design studio specializing in experimental creations that explore the physical properties of materials. Through a diverse range of projects, they are actively building a unique design language. Notable works include the ‘Bolt Series,’ utilizing full threaded bolts, the interactive ‘Affordance Series’ of furniture designed to induce action, and the nature-inspired craftsmanship of ‘Neo Naturalism.’ The studio consistently pushes the boundaries of design, creating distinctive pieces that reflect their commitment to originality and material exploration.
Photo
Kim Jeemin, Kim Jinseob