Windworks by Merel Karhof

Monday 20 May 2013

Wind Knitting Factory at the Zaanse Schans by Merel Karhof


Dutch designer Merel Karhof converted three windmills in Zaanse Schans, Northwest Netherlands, into a wind-powered factory able to produce upholstered furniture from scratch.

Wind Knitting Factory at the Zaanse Schans by Merel Karhof


The process has three stages: at Het Jonge Schaap, the sawmill, the wood is sawn into planks by the wind, and then assembled. From there, it is transported by water to the colour mill, De Kat, where the yarn is coloured using natural dyes ground by the windmill.

After this, the Wind Knitting Factory knits the yarns and the furniture is upholstered according to the speed with which each batch is made.

Windworks upholstered furniture by Merel Karhof

The upholstery is arranged in pillows of different shapes and sizes so that the user can visualise how long it took to make each seat.

Windworks upholstered furniture by Merel Karhof


The project sees Karhof develop the Wind Knitting Factory she first staged in 2010, this time extending the production from knitted scarves to upholstered furniture.

Wind Knitting Factory at the Zaanse Schans by Merel Karhof


Windworks was installed at Colour Mill De Kat, Zaanse Schans, Kalverringdijk 29, 1509 BT Zaandam, The Netherlands, from 12-19 May.

Wind Knitting Factory at the Zaanse Schans by Merel Karhof




Yarns dyed with natural dyes by Merel Karhof


Yarns dyed with natural dyes by Merel Karhof
Yarns dyed with natural dyes by Merel Karhof
Yarns dyed with natural dyes by Merel Karhof
Windworks upholstery samples by Merel Karhof
Yarn samples by Merel Karhof