Introduction
Introduction to the Yé-long modular furniture system
Looking for a sustainable, easy to move and easy to personalize furniture that respects the ethical and ecological aspects of user- and environmental friendly material?
Here it is:a wooden box with multiple possibilities: See our demonstration (tab) in 3 languages.
Detailed information will follow soon
Meaning of Yé-long is the Tibetan word for “superior space”
Disclaimer:
ALL Yé-long materials on this site and others are protected by: OFFICE DE L'UNION EUROPÉENNE POUR LA PROPRIÉTÉ INTELLECTUELLE
Registration: 005823143 to Markus Berres, 8 Avenue de Narbonne - F-11200 Saint André de Roquelongue, France.
Demonstration
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Design aspect
Idea and overall concept
The idea
The idea was to create easy to move, sustainable, ecological furniture that can be adapted to a multitude of places and needs. It can take different forms and colours and can be combined with many materials new or recycled.
It starts with one wooden box
seen from outside
There are 2 traps or doors.
8 dovetail female connectors.
Interior details
These special sockets allow an endless screwing and unscrewing. Handles can be created from all kinds of wood residues or other materials
With the male dove tail parts we establish the connection between the Yé-long boxes and other accessories. There are simple, double, half, long and short dove tail connectors.
Material
Material that can be used for the Yé-long elements
We wish that local woods are used by joiners and cabinet makers and that the wood residues serve for the frames and the panels of the Yé-long elements.
They can be also build from reused wood ( old furniture, palettes ). Also short pieces of wood which wouldn’t fit in bigger sized furniture can be used.
The panels can be replaced by glass, mirrors, paintings, stronger fabric, Japanese style paper and others.
The final finishing should be linseed oil or/and natural wax.
The cone bands should be made from stainless steel.
Design and construction
As you can see the sizes are quite unusual, let us tell you why:
We aimed to find ancient units of measurement and found that also the Sanskrit measurements are oriented on the human body.
Therefore 45,5 cm correspond to 1 cubit = 24 fingers.
56,875 cm correspond to 1 cubit + 6 fingers.
34,125 cm correspond to 1 cubit - 6 fingers.
1,8958333 cm = 1 finger which is the thickness of the frame parts.
The grid on which the outline Yé-long box draft was placed consists of the 1 finger unit.
Ways of Yé-long elements combination
Having built the Yé-long elements and the connectors we now can combine them with other accessories:
With 2 Yé-long modules you can start building cupboards, sideboards, seats, office furniture, bedside tables, bed for one person/child (easily adoptable to the different sizes of a growing child)
To turn for example 2 Yé-long modules into a desk you place the elements with the smallest parts into 2 bases with integrated rollers, add 2 fit to size drawers on each element, fix 2 transverse struts and place the table top on it.
What to do with 4 Yé-long modules?
A bed will be quickly assembled:
Place the Ye- Long elements with the long sides on the bases with adjustable feet.
Fasten 4 frame parts with the dove tail connectors on the boxes and 2 traverse struts inside the frame. Place your slatted frame and the mattress.
You may easily add a head – or/and footboard.
Using 6 – 10 Yé-long modules
The ways of combination are limitless. The Yé-long modules can be used in schools, kindergartens, exhibition stand construction, offices, camping cars etc … not to forget that you can fill each box with items you wish to move or transport.
Lifecycle Phase
Once acquired the Yé-long elements may stay with you during your whole life and the lives of your children and grandchildren. Due to the fact that you can change their aspects, decoration and the combinations they will always fit in, never be useless or out of fashion.
We treat the Yé-long elements with natural oils and wax so that if one day they are really damaged and can’t be repaired, you may burn them in your fireplace.
The cone bands are solid classic hinges which can easily be exchanges when needed.
The used ones can as well be recycled.
Distribution
The Yé-long elements as well as the accessories can be acquired, exchanged or sold on a central platform/website. It is of course meaningful to have a direct contact to the craftsman who builds the elements yet not always easy or possible.
All Yé-long producers will be registered on the site as well as each Yé-long box under its individual number; these numbers must be acquired by the craftsmen.
The commission fees attributed to each number serve to control the quality of the Yé-long elements, the respect for the “Ethical Charta” and the creation and maintenance of the website.
We wish that a large number of wood workers build the Yé-long elements to avoid long distance transports. It is our intention and goal to create a distribution system which is fair and correct towards the clients, the producers and the environment. Therefore the Ethical Charta must be accepted by producers and users.
Eco Benefits
- The Yé-long elements are meant to contribute to reducing waste and when build with machines driven by eco-electricity their environmental impact is zero or even positive.
- Building with wood in general stores carbon dioxide.
- Fabricating Yé-long elements with wood residues from our own or other workshops, from old furniture parts (which often are of good wood quality) or palettes transforms waste into long lasting equipment.
- The Yé-long elements themselves stop waste due to their longevity and interchangeability of the accessories.
- When moving house you may pack them instead of cartons and plastic boxes.
- Hardly any toxins are released during the fabrication of the Yé-long elements.
Ethical Charta
To work with many different people on a common project rules are needed and must be respected.
As we claim a high level of quality, social and environmental engagement, each craftsman who wishes to take part of the Yé-long system must adhere to the following basic agreements:
- Cooperation and solidarity, instead of competition between the craftsmen
- Loyalty and transparency towards the client, concerning the information about the company, the way of fabrication, use of material, social standards and price
- Each craftsman agrees to a control system verifying the providence and quality of the wood, the realisation and the social and ecological conditions
- Respect of the high level of exactitude of the measures needed for the perfect connection of the Yé-long elements and the interchangeability of the accessories
- A Non Profit Organisation should coordinate and manage the project.
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