Depending on where you’re from, traffic can evoke a lot of different themes. Chaos, heat, honking, being trapped, being angry, being late. Having grown up in a place with very little traffic, I am always in awe by the anger people feel towards traffic they sit in everyday. Honestly, whats the point? Raymond Simandjuntak sees traffic as a daily companion, and has created a chair to reflect his perception of the traffic jam.

Jekate Chaire. Designed by Raymond Simandjuntak.

The Jekate Chair, designed by Raymond Simandjuntak, explores the random structure of traffic with rattan. Rattan is a vine-like palm native to tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia. Indonesia, Raymond Simandjuntak’s home base, sources around 70% of the world’s rattan supply. Due to its economic value, rapid growth, ease of harvest, transportation and use, rattan can be a tool for sustainable forest management which helps reduce the use of other exotic materials. Rattan is an invasive plant that is very fast growing, growing up to 100 meters per year. Its use in furniture is helpful to the environment in a number of ways.

“I choose rattan as the main material, rattan is an abundant material nowadays, because there are so many materials commonly used for many kinds of furnitures. But in fact, rattan is a nice material, it’s sustainable, its looks beautiful, and its flexible, and due to it’s flexibility, it can be used to create any complex shapes. I would try to give a new look for a material that is already considered classic, towards modern shape thus resulted a lounge chair with unique modern design.” – Raymond Simandjuntak

About the Designer: Raymond Simandjuntak is a product, industrial, and furniture designer based out of Jakarta, Indonesia. He attended Institut Teknologi Bandung and received a Bachelor in Product Design in 2009. He has won awards including 2nd champion of Toyota National Design Competition, 2nd champion of Pasundan University City Car Design Facelift and was a finalist in the Polygon Bike Design Competition.