Kenneth Cobonpue

KENNETH COBONPUE (Cebu, Philippines, 1968).
“Lolah” armchair.
Rattan and nylon.
In very good condition.
The “Lolah” collection won the 2005 Design for Asia Award, one of the most prestigious accolades in contemporary Asian design.
Measurements: 60 x 126 x 103 cm.

The “Lolah” model is one of the most representative creations of Cobonpue’s design language; Cobonpue is an internationally renowned designer known for his contemporary reinterpretation of Southeast Asian craft techniques. In this piece, rattan ceases to function as a purely traditional material and becomes a sculptural element, capable of defining volume, ergonomics, and movement through an open and rhythmic construction.

The armchair features an enveloping, organic structure built from parallel rattan rods, creating a continuous surface of great visual lightness. Its design is characterized by the fluidity of its lines, structural transparency, and the dynamism of its curved forms, which seem to unfold in space like flexible architecture.

“Lolah” was created using construction techniques inspired by shipbuilding and the structural systems of lightweight architecture. The structure of slats joined by nylon fibers creates a spacious, enveloping seat, complemented by a cushion that provides comfort and textural hallmarks. The rods allow light to pass through the piece, creating plays of light and shadow and reinforcing its light, almost airy character.

Trained in industrial design at the Pratt Institute in New York, Kenneth Cobonpue later completed his apprenticeship in Europe before returning to Cebu, where he developed his own design language based on the contemporary reinterpretation of natural materials such as rattan, bamboo, abaca, and plant fibers.

Cobonpue’s work has received numerous international accolades, including Japan’s Good Design Awards, Hong Kong’s Design for Asia Award, France’s Coup de Coeur, and the title of Asian Designer of the Year awarded by Maison & Objet. His designs have been featured in specialized publications and have gained international recognition in private collections, institutional spaces, and exhibition venues dedicated to contemporary design.