Sibirjak Lounge Chair

Sibirjak by Anastasia Koshcheeva is a modern lounge chair made of birchbark. The almost forgotten natural material is not only flexible, soft, water-repellent and antibacterial, but also breathable, durable and strong. Despite these unique characteristics, it gets gradually forgotten. Sibirjak deals with the question of how to reinterpret an age-old tradition and also how to make the conventional handcraft up-to-date.The chair and ottoman combination emphasizes the material aesthetics, combining traditional skills with modern processing. The horizontal alignment of the bark underlines the leather-like properties of the material, is welcoming and offers a wide comfortable seat. The textile details and the reduced geometric frame form a strong contrast to the natural birchbark.Produced in Siberia in collaboration with local craftsman Sibirjak won the second prize at Salon Satellite Worldwide Moscow, and together with other products made of bark will be presented at Salone Satellite 2015 in Milano. Anastasiya Koshcheeva is a Russian designer, Berlin based, who has gained a place in the world of design with her objects inspired by the Siberian craftsmanship.Her research starts from observation, from the necessary patience to learn thousand-year old techniques, the same necessary patience to wait the first lukewarm ray of sunshine after the endless Siberian winter. It is Siberia, with its white woods of birches and snow, that constantly recurs in the work of the designer, raised in Krasnoyarsk, in the heart of deep Russia.The starting point of Koshcheeva works is birchbark, a material naturally waterproof, antibacterial, soft and flexible. After several procedures, made following the instructions of the Siberian artisans, this material changes and takes life in armchairs, stools, boxes and lamps, handmade by the designer herself.