Braunau, Austria
Spring, designed by Martin Ballendat for Nurus, is developed with a clear focus on material responsibility, ergonomic movement, and long-term environmental performance. Designed for dynamic workspaces, Spring responds to the growing demand for seating that supports human health while reducing the ecological footprint of everyday workplace products.
Spring Chair by Design Ballendat, won a 2025 Good Design Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design, and Urban Studies.
At the core of Spring is a spring-based, non-mechanical tilt system engineered entirely from recyclable plastic components. Rather than relying on complex metal mechanisms, the system follows a kinematic movement path around a central pivot point, allowing the chair to respond naturally to the user’s weight and posture.
This simplified structure provides smooth, balanced motion while reducing material use, assembly complexity, and EOL part separation challenges. By embedding the spring function directly into the chair’s structural arc, Spring achieves ergonomic performance through geometry rather than mechanical excess.
Spring is produced at Nurus’ 95% vertically integrated technology base, where approximately 70% of annual energy demand is met through rooftop solar panels. All production stages from plastic injection to final assembly are carried out within the same facility. For Spring’s production, raw material batches enter the factory through a single logistics flow and exit as ready-to-assemble products, which significantly minimizes transportation-related emissions. In addition, 83% of raw material suppliers are located within a 500 km radius of the production base, reinforcing a low-carbon and local supply chain.
Material efficiency is a defining principle of Spring’s design. The seat foam is curved in direct response to the human body, providing immediate comfort while using material only where structurally and ergonomically necessary. This form-driven approach reduces excess material without compromising ergonomic comfort.
The chair’s armrests are produced using a single plastic injection mold and assembled directly onto the backrest, simplifying production, disassembly, and part replacement. This rationalized construction shortens assembly time, lowers energy use in production, and supports future repair with minimal waste.
Spring is designed for clarity and ease of use. With natural movement and adjustments, the chair encourages correct posture through its responsive structure rather than manual intervention. This simplicity enhances the user experience while supporting sustainability by reducing misuse, over-adjustment, and premature replacement.
All plastic components are recyclable and designed to be separated at the end of the product’s lifecycle. By prioritizing mono-material strategies where possible and limiting the number of distinct components, Spring aligns with circular design principles focused on repair and recyclability. Its durable construction and timeless form support extended use across different environments, reducing the environmental impact of frequent product turnover.
Spring demonstrates how engineering, design, production, and material efficiency can come together in a seating solution that balances comfort, performance, and sustainability. Through its spring-based motion logic, closed-loop manufacturing, and low-carbon supply chain, Spring represents a sustainable approach to workspaces, designed to move with the user while minimizing impact on the planet.
Designers:Martin Ballendat, Design Ballendat
Manufacturer:Numaş Teknoloji Üretim A.Ş.
