To look at designer Benjamin Hubert’s take on the “Pod” for De Vorm, one might think it were but another fiberglass-shell affair, albeit, with a more handsome than usual upholstery. In fact, at first glance, I was reminded of those ubiquitous study carrels across college campuses, particularly in evidence at the University of Denver where I labored late nights among their rigid and hyper-colored environs. Given the epochal shelf-life of such furnishings, one rather imagines they’re right where I left them, even if they’ve long worn out their welcome. Think of Hubert’s latest as the antidote to these extended lifecycle blahs. His Pod is not made of fiberglass but rather Steam Bent Ash, and its finish is not the usual combination of glue, foam, and textile but rather moulded felt from recycled plastic bottles.

Pod. Designed by Benjamin Hubert.

Pod Provides Privacy and Sound Dampening

Like any place of respite worth the stuff of its devising, Pod creates a comforting sanctuary right within the bustle of any typical (or atypical) workspace. The acoustic privacy chair is comfortable and sheltering, with a high-backed ergonomic silhouette and the silky smooth softness only felt (or perhaps silk) can provide. Hubert has apparently refined the production of his PET-based felt to an exquisite degree; at least, that is, if the impressive range of options and colors can be said to speak to such. You’ll find Pod in incarnations across the spectrum: from chalky whites to baby blues to sedate charcoals and grays. There’s even a scrumptious looking shade of peach. But the big story with Pod is, of course, its environmental achievement, and Hubert’s auspicious use of recycled materials in this large-format chair is front page news: “The shell of the chair is the largest form ever produced utilising pressed PET felt technology. This felt allows a distinctive aesthetic as well as offers sound dampening properties to increase the sensation of privacy with acoustic performance.”

About the Designer: London-based Benjamin Hubert is known internationally for his streamlined aesthetic and innovative approach. The designer’s studio has been producing first rate furnishings and lighting since 2007, and even though his presence on the scene is yet of short duration, he’s garnered a good bit of acclaim. His awards include the 100% Design Blueprint Award for Best New Product (2009), the British Design Awards with Elle Decoration (Design of the year 2009), and the Home and Garden Design Classic (Young Designer of the Year 2010). Hubert designs across the aesthetic spectrum, but much of his work features a sublime sculpturality and subtly convex contours, as seen in his lovely Paddle Adjustable Task Lamp.