Designed by Borja Gomendio, a student at the University of Design and Technology in Madrid, Spain, the Atacama chair is an academic project that mesmerized us with its perfectly balanced, geometric design. The chair is named after the Atacama Desert in Chile and is made of hand-woven macrame yarn that has been precisely woven around a simple steel frame. The braided thread creates the seat and, upon closer inspection, the almost camouflaged compartment beneath to store objects like magazines and books.

Gomendio wanted the Atacama chair to able to withstand outdoor environments and thus chose lacquered steel tubes that are resistant to rust to create the supporting frame. Once the tubes have been cut to size, they are welded together in a way that hides the seams and enhances the elegant design. The woven material can be customized from a wide variety of colors to cater to any preferences. When direct lighting hits the chair, an abstract play of shadows is revealed, casting geometric patterns onto the chair’s surroundings.