LinumTube – Framing Circularity

LinumTube - A collaborative research project by Studio Jonathan Radetz and Fraunhofer WKI

The aim is to develop sustainable furniture for circularity using renewable flax fabrics and separable tubular steel structures. All components can be disassembled without tools which enables easy transportation, reuse, rearrangement and recycling while conserving resources. A special weaving technique produces multi-layered fabrics with integrated tunnels for steel tubes, all on the same loom. This minimises the need for further processing and reduces waste. The innovative combination of flax fabric and thin steel tubes creates a lightweight yet stable structure. The design is durable, adaptable and versatile. Hardly any production waste occurs, and residual materials return to the cycle. Beyond technical efficiency, LinumTube fosters socio-ecological transformation: its visible separability makes circular principles tangible, while the natural fabric emphasizes material origin.Users can reupholster or convert the furniture to another geometry themselves, strengthening resource awareness and participatory design. The project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.