Rush 藺草
Pendant & tension
A two-piece study in Taiwan's rush-grass craft, created with Tunghai University. Pendant turns woven rush into a glowing conical light. Tension pairs hand-woven mats with a light bamboo frame to create a balanced seat. Both pieces explore how a single natural fiber can serve radically different structural and atmospheric roles, from filtering light to bearing body weight.
Material sourcing
Wild rush grass was sourced from central Taiwan's wetlands, dried over several weeks, and sorted by thickness and flexibility. Traditional weaving patterns were tested for structural strength and, in the case of Pendant, for how evenly they transmitted light. Early tests revealed which weave densities could hold tension across a frame without snapping and which allowed a soft, even glow when backlit by LED.
Construction
For Tension: bamboo legs were hand-cut and joined at T-junctions with natural cord. Woven rush mats were stretched over the frame, and the natural pre-tension of the taut fibers keeps the seat surface firm without mechanical fasteners. For Pendant: an ABS cone was 3D-printed as the structural core, then wrapped with layered rush grass in a pattern tuned for even light distribution. An LED module and diffuser were integrated inside the cone, with the weave density controlling how much light passes through at each point.
Pattern iteration
Multiple weave patterns were tested, including the traditional papaya weave, which offered the best balance of visual rhythm and structural integrity. Each pattern was evaluated for how it affected light diffusion on Pendant and load distribution on Tension. Joint details on both pieces were refined through repeated assembly and testing until stiffness, weight, and tactile quality all felt resolved.
Specifications
Rush grass, bamboo, LED, ABS · collaboration with Tunghai University · Taichung, Taiwan · 2018–2020
Gallery
- Challenges1/2
Frame wobble on Tension and LED flicker on Pendant. Bamboo joints were reinforced with wrapped thread and the electrical wiring was isolated from the organic material to prevent shorts. Pre-tension on the seat mats was increased and the cable path inside the pendant cone was rerouted for cleaner assembly.
- Insights2/2
Natural fiber combined with rigid frames demands planned pre-tension from the start. Electronics need early isolation from organic materials. Testing structural blends sooner in the process reduces late-stage rework.
Swipe to explore