Stackable Wheelchair
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" Wheelchairs are not always accessible even at wheelchair accessible facilities.
We saw this as an urgent design task."
Many public facilities have become wheelchair accessible. However, even in such facilities, wheelchairs are not always made available for use. Wheelchairs are often stored away. When they are not stored away, they take up space and often obstruct the path. Our goal is to design a wheelchair that can be compactly stored and easy to access so that people with different physical strengths can fully access public facilities.
Today, the mainstream design of wheelchairs, which are widely used in public facilities, is foldable. This type of design has long been used around the world because of its storability and mass productivity. However, it has the disadvantage that it needs to be folded and unfolded as needed. Our wheelchair can be stored compactly and has immediate access when needed. We reimagined the wheelchair as a piece of furniture—an object that embraces, rather than merely supports, the user. Traditional designs often prioritize function over presence, but we sought to honor the human experience.
Today, the mainstream design of wheelchairs, which are widely used in public facilities, is foldable. This type of design has long been used around the world because of its storability and mass productivity. However, it has the disadvantage that it needs to be folded and unfolded as needed. Our wheelchair can be stored compactly and has immediate access when needed. We reimagined the wheelchair as a piece of furniture—an object that embraces, rather than merely supports, the user. Traditional designs often prioritize function over presence, but we sought to honor the human experience.
Inspired by the timeless appeal of familiar furniture, we imagined a wheelchair that doesn’t feel like a clinical device, but rather a natural extension of the user’s living space. To achieve this, we chose wood as the primary material for the parts that users frequently touch. Wood offers a unique warmth and tactile richness that synthetic materials cannot match. Its natural texture invites interaction and comfort, helping users feel more at ease and connected to the product. Our design draws from minimalist principles of Japanese design, emphasizing clean lines and thoughtful details that create a calming beauty. By blending these elements, we aim to create not just a wheelchair, but an experience—one that respects the user’s dignity, promotes well-being, and elevates everyday mobility to something truly personal.
