Bahia Chair

Bahía, a small coastal town in Ecuador where I grew up, inspires my design work. For my capstone project, I created a chair that celebrates Ecuadorian craftsmanship through structure, materiality, and cultural references.

I drew inspiration from traditional weaving techniques found in local hammocks, cane furniture, and toquilla straw crafts like Panama hats. By reinterpreting these patterns with rope, I gave the design a contemporary twist while preserving its cultural roots.

Hammocks are central to Ecuadorian life, symbolizing rest, connection, and calm. This chair brings those values into modern urban spaces—capturing a sense of tranquility, movement, and comfort rooted in my heritage.

Research

The research for Bahía chair focused on three main areas: Ecuadorian weaving traditions, the cultural use of hammocks, and local sustainable materials. I studied various weaving techniques used across the country, including handmade looms, traditional textiles and everyday objects made from toquilla straw, such as baskets and Panama hats. I also explored the use of hammocks, which are deeply rooted in coastal Ecuadorian life and inspired the suspended seat design of the chair. Lastly, I researched sustainable practices and discovered local companies like Ecuaplastics, which recycle plastic waste into usable rope an element I incorporated to connect cultural heritage with environmentally conscious design.

Ideation

Ideation focus on 3 designs

Weaving Exploration

Ergonomic Testing

Prototype Testing

Iterations

Chair Exploded View

Woodworking on final product

Bahia Chair Final Product

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