Header: Minji Cho
Minji Cho and Mook Lim explore how architecture can inform everyday furniture. Inspired by staircases, the Stairlounge design reimagines this familiar form as a seating object. The ergonomic furniture piece maintains a stepped form that responds to naturally shifting positions during prolonged use. The modular structure offers multiple seating options with a large square base, an angular backrest part in the middle and a cushion-like addition on top.
Minji Cho
Stair-inspired seating excellence
More than just a movement support, the stairs have always been a place where people can relax and reflect on their own or gather with others for connection. This ability of stairs to connect people has been turned into a lounge chair/sofa which embodies intimacy and privacy. The interaction with the chair mimics the one made with staircases. The chair mirrors the social intimacy of stairs, transforming their spontaneous moments of gathering into a comfortable setting for conversation and connection.
The rhythmic rise of stairs shows how structured, yet dynamic forms can provide the design with visual and functional depth. Stairlounge captures the fragile balance between openness and personal space visible in the semi-private nature of the stairs, suitable for both deep convos and solitude depending on the mood of the user.
Multiple seating levels
A functional and inviting nature of the stairs is conveyed into a comfortable seating experience. With a square base, the lounge offers several seating levels, from an elevated corner for perching to the lower step for relaxed seating. The side profile of the lounge mimics the appearance of the stairs while at the same time providing ergonomic comfort. Its visual weight and stability are accompanied by a sleek stacked silhouette that places the piece between architecture and furniture. The great adaptability makes the chair a perfect fit for numerous domestic and commercial spaces.
The versatility of the design provides Stairlounge with a dual purpose, working simultaneously as a standalone lounge chair and a modular unit, allowing users to connect several pieces and form larger seating planes. A single unit can provide a cosy self-sufficient retreat, while a group of several chairs can form cascading stair-like configurations for communal spaces.
Design as a conversation tool
Stairlounge’s lead designer Minji Cho and her colleague Mook Lim share a passion for architecture and design, the way they shape the space we live in and our emotions. Through their designs, the duo seeks to create spatial harmony while promoting a sense of well-being and belonging. Using design as a tool for dialogue between people and disciplines, designers experiment with designs that reflect their emotional and communal impact while encouraging innovation.
Conceived as both a functional lounge chair and a visually stunning sculptural object, Stairlounge challenges the conventional furniture typologies by turning an architectural element into a comfortable seating design. Stairlounge is the proud winner of the SIT Furniture Design Award in the Commercial Furniture category.
