Kohti chair – the future of recycled matter

Kohti is defined by an elegant silhouette, with a compact backrest that flows seamlessly into the armrests. Its slender lines and continuous joints are formed from powder-coated tubular steel. The stool adapts easily to different interiors through its visual simplicity, versatility and structural durability. Its construction draws on the technical experience and attention to detail developed through our previous products. At the centre of the project is the idea of transformation through reuse. The seat is made from recycled material, giving discarded matter a new function and a new presence. Rather than imagining sustainability as an attempt to preserve the world in an unchanged state, Kohti considers it as a process of adaptation – a way of moving forward while remaining conscious of what already exists.

The name Kohti, meaning “towards” in Finnish, reflects this idea of movement. It metaphorically describes two opposing positions confronting the question of excessive production: the desire to preserve our environment and the inevitability of continuing change. The two are not necessarily contradictory. The world cannot be sealed in a permanent state; the future will arrive regardless. The question is how consciously we choose to shape it.

The 20 mm seat is made from recycled HDPE polyethylene obtained from discarded black and white shampoo bottles. Beyond giving existing material a second life, HDPE offers practical advantages: it is non-toxic, resistant to UV radiation and low temperatures, and unaffected by water, acids and alkalis. The production process begins with collecting, washing and sorting the used containers before they are shredded into small fragments. Material of different colours is then combined, heated and compressed under pressure to form a solid sheet. Once cooled, the required shape is CNC-cut from the panel, completing the transformation from discarded packaging into a functional furniture component.

2021