Knot Stool Makes Rope the Structure, Not the Decoration

By Amara Osei

A knot protrudes from the side of the Knot Stool on purpose — Studio Yann Gandon left it exposed where most manufacturers would tuck it under or hide it behind a plastic cap. That small decision frames the whole design: a rigid seat held together by rope instead of screws and glue, with the connection placed where you're meant to see it.

The studio, working with collaborator Maxime Sauce, uses cordage and knots to join laser-cut aluminum components. The metal carries the seat and supports; the lashing binds the pieces. The rope has a structural job. It isn't craft-flavored trim bolted onto a conventional stool.

What holds the stool together?

Rows of cord cross the rectangular top near either end and continue down two broad side panels, tied through dense bands. From across the room the bands read as blocks of texture; up close, you can trace individual strands.

The geometry is almost stubbornly plain — a flat top, two side panels, one panel spanning between them. No sweeping curves compete with the knots. That restraint is deliberate. A fancier aluminum silhouette would fight the very detail that makes the object worth examining.

The finished version specifies brushed 5754 aluminum, a quiet backdrop for all that knotting. The pairing suggests climbing equipment translated into furniture: flat industrial plates meeting flecked cord that looks ready for different work. The appeal sits in the mismatch.

What are the rope options?

The studio documents three cord colors, each of which changes the object considerably:

• Gray — keeps the stool near a single palette, letting the loops register through their shadows
• Purple — turns the stitching graphic
• Yellow — borrows the visual language of safety gear without covering the aluminum

Photographs of the components stacked flat show the panels in a shallow pile with rope pre-threaded, implying compact packing. Whether assembly feels intuitive in person, an image can't say. Still, seeing the parts alongside the finished piece lets the design read as a system rather than a flattering silhouette.

Can you actually buy one?

Yes, with caveats. Belgian retailer RUIMTE lists the stool as made to order, with custom sizes and rope colors available — though the listing currently displays a sold-out label, so ordering would need confirmation. This is a considered purchase, not the cheap spare seat you grab before guests arrive.

Practical questions remain open. The studio's project description provides no load rating and no care guidance for the rope connections — details that would tell an owner how, or whether, to check the lashing over time. The cord adds texture near the edges, but the seat itself stays a flat metal surface. Occasional seating, not armchair comfort.

Even so, the Knot Stool earns attention through one readable decision. You can follow the rope's route and understand why it's there, which makes the exposed knot more compelling than any ornamental flourish. The construction rewards curiosity before anyone sits down — and it suggests more studios will let joints speak for themselves rather than hide them.