zhiya huang

Department: Man and Activity
Website: mingzhidesign.com

ZHU

WHAT
A furniture range that exploits the intrinsic quality of bamboo.

WHY
Bamboo grows easily in the fertile soil near Zhiya Huang’s home town of Chengdu in central China. However, ancient craft techniques are threatened by the emergence of new products such as compressed bamboo board. Zhiya wants to breathe new life into the culture of bamboo furniture.

HOW
Zhiya worked with a craftsman to explore new joints and new uses for bamboo. Her stool and bench feature an innovative connection in the frame that showcases the material’s natural properties. She also limited the number of steps needed to make the pieces. No glue or nails were used in the process.

QUOTE
Compressed bamboo is not bamboo.