Morphosis Design

I first saw morphosis design last year at the Design Indaba where they featured as part of the Emerging Creatives program. I found their work innovative, urban and cleverly put together. Last year they exhibited three chair variants, modern takes on traditional pieces, all celebrating the beauty of the Teak wood they were made from. This year they launched their Chopstix Lamp, which plays with the organic feel of wool and clean lines of bamboo.

The frame of the lamp is made from bamboo while the covering is made from 100% wool from Ronel Jordaan. The wool has been wrapped in a thick, loose way that gives it a soft, raw feel. This contrasts with the simplicity of the bamboo. It is available in earthy shades of red, blue, grey and yellow. 

I really like the way the different points in the lamp cast a variety of interesting shadows. The lamp reminds me of a hand holding a ball of light, with long shadow fingers stretching to the ceiling. Maybe I read too many fantasy novels. Whatever. 

Their chairs are manufactured from Iroko (Nigerian Teak). This is one of the most durable timbers in the world because it contains natural oil and therefore needs no oiling or varnishing. To contrast the light colour and smooth texture of the teak, they played with a bright red polyester weave, giving the chairs an edgy, urban chic feel.

The Layer Chair and Layer Ottoman both draw back to the traditional "Riempie" chairs that you still see in older farm houses. In this way the team combined elements of traditional South African furniture, giving it sleeker, updated finishes.

Layer Chair

Layer Ottoman

If you're not into the red, the Layer Chair and Ottoman are also available in a variety of other shades.

The T-Chair is more of a signature piece. I think they have done an amazing job with clean lines and sharp angles that celebrate the simplicity of the Teak.

To order, contact morphosis design Studio directly at info@morphosis.co.za. Their website (www.morphosis.co.za) is still in the making, but their contact details are there too. You can also follow them on twitter @morphosisdesign