Indian straw and its use in architecture and decoration

2023-11-02 17:02:39

A indian straw It is a natural material that is very popular in the world of architecture and decoration. Despite being on the rise again in the last two decades, the technique artisanal of loom the rattan is millennial and has a very rica e curious.

The first records of the use of Indian straw in furniture that we know of date back to distant 1323 BCon a straw bed found in the pharaoh’s tomb Egyptian Tutankhamun.

The art of weaving consists of braiding rattan stems from the Calamus Rotang group, a type of palm tree originating from Southeast Asia, Oceania and Africa. With navigation and the establishment of commercial routes between Asia and Europe, the first appearances of rattan already Holland, England and France.

From then on, the Indian straw became popular with Europeans with the creation of Thonet Chair in 1859. Using the ancient oriental technique, the German Michael Thonet presented a detachable, stackable chair in Vienna, with a wooden back and cane seat. Due to its popularity in bistros in Vienna and also in Paris, it gained the nickname “bistro chair“, and to this day Thonet’s company, Gebrüder Thonet Viennais a reference in the use of Indian straw in pieces innovative of furniture.

The Thonet chair was chosen by Panaggio Arquitetura to give a vintage and light touch to the apartment’s dining room. Photo: Denilson Machado / Disclosure

But it was in Brazil that the straw really had its potential explored to the maximum in architecture and decoration. The technique arrived here in 17th century, during the colonial period, along with the many velvets and cottons of Europeans. It was soon realized that rattan was a material that matched much more with the clima tropical of the country: light, breathable and cool, and hence the “tropicalization” do material.

As modernism Brazilian in the 20th century, Indian straw began to be used more widely by architects and designers as a true national element. Its golden phase took place in 1950, and to this day it occupies its place as prestige in houses and apartments as it presents numerous benefits: allows air circulation, combats humidity, is elegant, functional, light, very resistant, delicate and versatile.

In the buffet, Indian straw brings lightness and a tropical air to the A+G Arquitetura project. Photo: Luiza Schreier / Disclosure

The production process of rattan furniture (popularly known as “Indian straw”) goes through the following stages: harvesting, treatment, weaving, finishing and assembly.

In the first step, mature rattan stems are harvested from Calamus group palm trees or Rattan plants. The straws used in architecture and interior decoration are the climbing plantsas they have longer stems that are suitable for weaving. These harvested natural “fibers” are then processed to remove the tough, fibrous outer shell. This leaves the inner core flexible and ready for use.

Once the material is ready, the molding e weaving artisanal. Rattan is known for its malleability, which allows artisans to bend and shape the stems in a variety of ways. After creating this structure, the rattan can be treated with different types of finishingsuch as polishing, staining and applying varnish or sealant to extend its useful life, and voilà: we have a unique piece made with famous Indian straw.

And very important information: straw production has low environmental impact, since its raw material, the rattan plant, is fully utilized. It also does not generate toxic waste or any harm to nature or the local population, as the process is carried out in a artisanal.

Indian straw is great for use in headboards, like in this project by Beatriz Zeglin. Photo: Rafael Ribeiro / Disclosure

O use potential of Indian straw in architecture and decoration is giganteand the most renowned architecture exhibitions in the world show us their infinite possibilities of application.

The most common thing is to find Indian straw as an integral part of tables, headboards and, of course, chairs. We previously commented on the Thornet Chair, the first of its kind to conquer the world, and since then, many other models have appeared and formed a typically Brazilian aesthetic unmistakable.

In this project by Robert Robl Arquitetura e Interiores, the Thonet chair gains a more modern design. Photo: Rafael Renzo / Disclosure

It is also worth daring and betting on Indian straw as structural part of architecture: it is great for separating environments in a fluid and visually pleasing way, for example.

Project by Helô Marques using Indian straw on the bedroom’s sliding doors. Photo: Rafael Renzo / Disclosure

In any case, Indian straw is an option extremely versatile and that fits into the most different architecture and decoration projects. There are infinite ways to apply it, and more and more the world of design includes it in its pieces and provides furniture elegant, light It is made by hand not market.