coffee waste becomes raw, textured furniture in chanhyeok kim's 'unsleepy series'

unsleepy series by CHanhyeok Kim upcycles coffee waste

Carpenter CHanhyeok Kim explores material hybridity with his Unsleepy Series, a furniture collection crafted from coffee grounds and architectural materials. By repurposing coffee waste into a composite dubbed Coffee Dough, the series experiments with texture and form.

The furniture pieces are constructed using a mold, where Coffee Dough—a mixture of coffee grounds and binding agents—is poured over a cardboard frame. Once dried, the material exhibits a texture akin to ceramic or stone, with variations in color and surface cracking depending on the mixing ratio.

Unsleepy Chair 01 | all images courtesy of CHanhyeok Kim

The furniture mimics the texture of fermented soy blocks

The series by the Korean carpenter CHanhyeok Kim includes four chairs and two stools. Unsleepy Chair 01 embodies the raw texture of Coffee Dough, while Unsleepy Chair 02 embraces a ‘Meju’ texture, inspired by the split surfaces of traditional fermented soybean blocks. The cracks, a natural result of the drying process, are intentionally emphasized to highlight the organic nature of the material. 

The Unsleepy Series continues to evolve, transforming through subtle shifts in structure. The first chair reconfigures itself—flipping upside down and shedding its legs—to explore new spatial and functional possibilities. Through these experimental techniques, Kim pushes the boundaries of sustainable materiality, redefining furniture design with unexpected elements.

CHanhyeok Kim explores material hybridity with his Unsleepy Series | Unsleepy Chair 02

the collection is crafted from coffee grounds and architectural materials | back of Unsleepy Chair 02

the series experiments with texture and form | Unsleepy Chair 03, CHippendale A5, CHippendale A6

the furniture pieces are constructed using a mold | Unsleepy Chair 04, D Moon-2

Coffee Dough is a mixture of coffee grounds and binding agents | back of Unsleepy Chair 04

the material exhibits a texture akin to ceramic or stone | Unsleepy Stool 01 & 02

Meju blocks made from coffee dough, paper, resin

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Unsleepy Chair 04

Unsleepy Chair 03

back of Unsleepy Chair 03

back of Unsleepy Chair 01

Unsleepy Stool 02

project info:

name: Unsleepy Series
designer: Kim CHanhyeok | @chabokk_

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom