2 Para Stools and 2 box sets of research materials

The Para Stool is a piece of contemporary furniture by Christian+Jade, a design studio helmed by Christian Hammer Juhl and Jade Chan. It engages with Singapore’s environmental and material history and examines interrelationships between Man and nature through how the Para Rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) has been tamed, domesticated and harvested for its resources since the late 19th century. The curvature of the seat is inspired by the natural shape of incisions made during the process of harvesting latex from a rubber tree, while the base is made from rubber wood sourced from the region by Karimoku, a Japanese wooden furniture manufacturer which Christian+Jade partnered for the production of the piece.Sculptural in nature, the stool draws upon its minimalist and austere aesthetics to focus on the materialities of its constituent parts to convey the versatility and life cycle of the rubber tree, drawing connections between the raw materials and their end use. The clean and refined lines convey a sense of balance, proportion and simplicity. Through elevating the use of rubber wood, a less favoured option among furniture manufacturers as compared to other timber varieties like teak and mahogany, the designers aim to broaden possibilities for reimagining the function of the material, and to encourage more sustainable use of natural resources – given that rubber wood is typically felled and used as fuelwood and charcoal after rubber trees attain their maximum productive lifespan.Para Stool was first presented in a group exhibition ‘Future Impact 2’ organised by DesignSingapore Council as part of Milan Design Week 2024. The work was developed from RSS Vessels (2022), an earlier investigation by Christian+Jade into the inherent qualities of natural rubber and how rubber sheets were produced.