Planbureau: The Warmth of Cork and the Charm of Design

3 Questions for Daniel Lakos, CEO and Lead Designer at Planbureau

Q: When developing the Corker Lounge Chair, did your process begin with the tactile qualities of the material, with ergonomic concerns, or with a more conceptual idea?
A: The development of the Corker Lounge Chair began with the material itself. Cork has an unusual tactile quality — warm, soft to the touch, and acoustically gentle. Before thinking about form or ergonomics, I wanted to explore how far this material could be pushed structurally and sensorially. From there, ergonomics naturally guided the shaping of the seat, ensuring that the piece would be as comfortable as it is conceptually distinct..

Q: Cork is not a common material for lounge seating. What drew you to this choice, and how does it shape the character of the piece

A: Cork appealed to me precisely because it is unconventional in lounge seating. It challenges expectations: people associate cork with bottle stoppers or insulation, not with furniture. By scaling it up and shaping it as a sculptural mass, cork brings an unexpected warmth and softness to the piece. Its texture, visual depth, and earthy presence give the Corker Lounge Chair a unique character — simultaneously contemporary and rooted in natural simplicity.

Q: Sustainability is increasingly central to design. How does cork as a material align with your views on responsible production and longevity?

A: Sustainability was a key motivation. Cork is harvested without cutting down trees — the bark regenerates, making it one of the most renewable materials available. It is lightweight, durable, and biodegradable, which means it minimizes environmental impact across its life cycle. For me, designing with cork was not only about aesthetics but about aligning the product with responsible, long-term production values. The result is a chair that embodies both material honesty and environmental care.

About Cork Lounge Chair

The Cork Lounge Chair is made entirely from sustainable materials and fully adheres to Zero Waste principles. The seat and backrest, while resembling upholstered furniture, are crafted from solid cork. Rather than using machined cork blocks, an innovative injection molding technology allows the components to be mass-produced efficiently. Para oak is completely renewable, as only the bark—which naturally regenerates—is used, and cork waste can be reused, further supporting Circular Economy principles.

Production is highly efficient: only the necessary amount of material is used, the number of parts is minimal, construction is simple, and automation keeps costs low. Unlike traditional upholstered furniture, these pieces require no artificial foam or labor-intensive processes, promoting local production and reducing shipping. The flat-pack design ensures space-saving storage and transport. Unlike other flat-pack furniture, the Cork Lounge Chair is not manufactured in the Far East, contains no artificial materials, and minimizes environmental impact during transportation.

Planbureau Studio is a Budapest-based multidisciplinary design practice founded in 2009 by designer Dániel Lakos. The studio works across exhibitions, interiors, furniture, products, and toys, always combining hands-on experimentation with clear visual storytelling. Over the past decade, our furniture collections have received several international awards, including recognition in Japan, Denmark, and Serbia, and are regularly featured in leading design exhibitions. Dániel’s chair designs are manufactured by Balaton Bútor, one of Hungary’s most established furniture producers. Our concrete décor objects and toy products have also gained global visibility, being available at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, and the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. Beyond studio practice, Dániel Lakos contributes to design education as a lecturer at the Design Department of MOME University in Budapest, helping to shape the next generation of designers. Planbureau continues to explore playful, experimental, and sustainable approaches to design.