Up-and-coming designer Freyja Sewell, of Brighton, U.K., has designed Hush seating. Opened, it’s a cool-looking and very comfortable chair. Closed, it’s a sophisticated version of the tents and forts we all made as kids. Sewell describes Hush as “womb-like”, a personal retreat in an age of exponential population growth which makes privacy and peaceful respite an increasingly precious commodity. There are a number of personal pod designs out there, many of which are filled with expensive high-tech gadgetry. They all have hard outer shells and high price tags. Hush, on the other hand, is made of 100% wool felt; renewable, biodegradable, lightweight, and cozy, wool felt is an eco-textile for the 21st century. Wool’s natural oils resist spills and stains as well. The radial symmetry of this well-thought-out design is restful. It curves elegantly to a playful peak at the top, and closes leaving a slit to let in light and air, which creates an environment to “see without being seen”, an optimal comfort-zone state that humans instinctively gravitate too. Sewell has studied in Britain and Japan, both on scholarships, as an A student. Having recently studied design myself, I have to say, it shows, not only in the beautiful execution of this design, but also in the fact that a quiet, private place to nap is often at the top of any design student’s wish list. Hand-stitched details add to the warmth and simplicity. A cut-out logo makes a subtle and unique ‘designer’ statement. The cushions are stuffed with recycled wool fibres.
