BUE Stool
Norway x New York is a cross-cultural exchange pairing five American studios with five Norwegian studios, who together spend six months working long-distance to create a pieces of furniture, lighting or accessories. The project was initiated by Sight Unseen founders Monica Khemsurov and Jill Singer, with support from the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York. For the 2017 edition we were paired with Norwegian design studio Noidoi.
Sharing a common interest in the idea of mindful living, we set out to design an object that inspired a more thoughtful approach to everyday life. Where we landed was BUE, a stool initially inspired by a 1940s Swiss prayer knee-rest; an object solely characterized by its emphasis on mindfulness. Through a continuous dialogue, the form was refined and the stool’s characteristics began to take shape- namely a linear wooden frame and a channeled upholstered seat, which take great care to produce but emanate a familiar simplicity.
More than its physical value, it refers to the process of understanding each other as design studios through creating a common ground where new ideas can evolve. To highlight this encounter, the product merges two main materials: American Oak and Norwegian wool, representing each of the two countries of origin.
Designed in collaboration with Sina Sohrab.