BEE

Finding new uses for mundane materials is one of our goals. If all of the Earth's resources can be made to seem precious and worthy of being conserved, large amounts of what we now consider garbage would suddenly be re-evaluated. Vast amounts of paper products are used and discarded each day. This paper can be easily recycled into cardboard. Cardboard too is often regarded as worthless packing material destined for the landfill.

Can modest materials be elevated in status by fully exploiting inherent structural, visual and tactile properties?

The majesty of the tree these products once were should be upheld, somehow.
Beeboard or Torhex, are expanded corrugated cardboard sheet goods that form the basis of this prototypical sofa. The material is made from industrial and post consumer paper products and is used primarily as a packaging material and as core filler in hollow door construction.

The expanded cardboard is sandwiched between sheets of hardboard, imparting structural rigidity and increased longevity. These products are lightweight and strong, readily available and familiar yet, in this context, also surprising and unfamiliar. Used as the base for this sofa, the beeboard has been folded bellows like, further increasing structural properties while enhancing the textural complexity of the honeycombed cellular matrix.
Over this long and reticulated base are draped custom made linear cushions filled with shredded blue jean material recycled from the manufacturing of clothing. These draped cushions are made to order in any fabric, hide or material. Colors can be coordinated or randomly collaged to suit the needs of ant décor. The flexibility and expressive opportunities are endless. Thus, this sofa can be adapted as times change, lengthening the useful lifespan of such humble trash.