Dezeen Magazine

Jasper Morrison designs Kali chair to fund African orphanage

Stockholm 2015: this wooden chair by British designer Jasper Morrison was created for use in a Tanzanian orphanage and will be sold to fund the centre's development.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

Comissioned by Swedish furniture brand Offecct, the Kali chair comprises a simple laminated wooden seat on top of a wooden frame and round lathed legs. and is available with or without upholstery on the seat and back.

It was created by Jasper Morrison for use in the first of a series of buildings constructed at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in northern Tanzania.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

The cluster will eventually include an orphanage, a school, offices, and homes for children and aid workers in the area.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

Morrison's chair will also be sold internationally, with part of the revenue going directly to non-government organisation ECONEF and put towards the continued development of the orphanage.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

Currently made in Sweden, the chair was designed using techniques that make it possible to bring production to northern Tanzania in the future – creating local work opportunities.

For this reason, the type of wood and upholstery used in its construction has been left open.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

"Kali was designed with a somewhat low technical aspect to allow the possibility of it being produced locally later on," said Jasper Morrison. "The character of the chair is slightly educational without being boring, I hope, and necessarily designed to have a long life."

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

The project is part of Offecct's ongoing collaboration with ECONEF and marks the first time the brand has worked with Morrison, whose previous designs include the iconic Air Chair – a lightweight stackable seat made from one piece of injection-moulded polypropylene.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

"We are very pleased to be working with Jasper Morrison. He understands the importance of this project," said Offecct CEO Kurt Tingdal.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

"We have supported ECONEF since 2013 and by creating this chair we can contribute something that is physical, something that can be used straight away, besides offering monetary support."

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

Based in both Sweden and Tanzania, ECONEF's African branch is run by orphanage owner Caroline Nicholas.

Kali chair by Jasper Morrison for Offecct

Located in Jua Kali, outside the city of Arusha, the organisation aims to improve the standard of living for orphans in the area.

ECONEF orphanage in Jua Kali. Photograph by Petter Abrahamsen
ECONEF orphanage in Jua Kali. Photograph by Petter Abrahamsen

The Kali chair will be presented at the Stockholm Furniture Fair from 3 to 7 February.