The Moebius endless armchair, inspired by the Möbius strip and made of rattan and water hyacinth, is an eco-friendly, relationship forming seating statement. Created by Belgian designer Gaëtan Van de Wyer and manufactured in Thailand by Onyx, this unique piece of furniture is designed to “encourage users to sit facing each other, prompting conversation or a romantic liaison.” iconeye

Moebius endless armchair. Designed by Onyx.

The Onyx project was launched in 2007 with Gaëtan Van de Wyer and his team V2W Architects as the head designers. A specialist in green projects, Gaëtan Van de Wyer gives priority to renewable wood and environmentally friendly buildings. Biologist Olivier Laurent manages the manufacturing in Chiang Mai along with a team of selected craftsmen. Chiang Mai is known for its long tradition of quality furniture. The main goal of Onyx is to create furniture designs that promote the use of renewable materials and eco-friendly techniques by rethinking traditional manufacturing process and being highly critical of the raw materials chosen.

The Moebius Armchair is made of rattan and water hyacinth. Rattan is a vine-like palm native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia. Due to its economic value, rapid growth, ease of harvest, transportation and use, rattan can be a tool for sustainable forest management and an alternative to other varieties of tropical wood. Onyx is currently in discussions with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature to participate in a sustainable rattan management program in Vietnam, Lao PDR and Cambodia. Water hyacinth is a naturally invasive aquatic plant, often considered a nuisance in tropical regions. In Burma, Thailand and Vietnam this plant is widely harvested, which is advantageous as it slows down the plant’s invasion and noticeably revitalizes local economic activity. Onyx is looking at the combining human and environmental ideas to create truly sustainable furniture.