What it is
GU is a 2013 conceptual chair by PINWU. The official record names Christoph John, Zhang Lei and Jovana Zhang as the lead designers and links the work to research by the Róng Design Library. Its shell is formed from paper pulp associated with a local bamboo-paper chain, while the photographed chair stands on a separate light-toned wooden leg structure.
Verified record
- Official work name: GU / 固
- Year: 2013
- Dimensions: 60 × 55 × 82 cm
- Primary listed shell material: paper pulp
- Designers: Christoph John, Zhang Lei and Jovana Zhang
- Material research: Róng Design Library
- Documented context: bamboo is processed into fibre, paper and then a chair shell
Why the material matters
GU asks how a material associated with flat sheets can become a load-bearing three-dimensional shell. The official description follows the material from young bamboo through pulping and paper making before it becomes furniture. The resulting form keeps a visibly fibrous surface and a thin rim, so the transformation is legible rather than hidden beneath upholstery or a uniform plastic coating.
Colour is part of the research
The official page shows several pale colour versions and connects them with traditional dyeing. Colour should therefore be treated as a documented material variation, not as proof that every photographed finish is currently available. Screen rendering, lighting and ageing may also change how the paper surface appears, so finish selection would require a current sample and written specification.
Questions before display or use
The archive does not publish load rating, moisture tolerance, fire performance, repair method, floor-protection detail, production lead time or current edition status. Paper-based furniture also raises conservation questions that cannot be answered from a photograph: exposure to humidity and ultraviolet light, cleaning method, edge wear and surface repair should all be confirmed with the studio before any acquisition, exhibition or routine use.
Editorial limits
ChinoMuse has not handled, sat in, measured, cleaned or load-tested GU. The profile does not guarantee comfort, structural performance or present availability. Identity, designers, material, dimensions and year were checked against PINWU’s public pages on 24 August 2026. Official photography is used as limited editorial quotation with the source recorded.
Related records
See the PINWU brand profile, CEWO and Piao II.
