Location: Bucharest, Romania
Type: Storage Furniture (3rd place at the National Competition for Traditional Design)
Design: Parametric Furniture Design
Team: Oana Maria Paraschiv & A.R.T.A
Completion: 2012

The Hope Chest is a contemporary reinterpretation of a classic Romanian dowry chest, designed to store cherished items such as clothing, jewelry, and documents. The chest's geometric form, inspired by the pentagon and realized as a dodecahedron, symbolizes transformation and balance, offering a dynamic yet stable structure. Traditional Romanian motifs, typically seen in folk art, are reimagined through parametric design, blending heritage with modern technology. These motifs are intricately carved into the faces of the chest, creating a connection between past and present.

Crafted from durable lamellar materials, the chest combines aesthetic beauty with practicality. Its dimensions (1600x800 mm) ensure ample storage space, while the robust pressing and gluing techniques used in its construction reflect the attention to detail typical of Romanian craftsmanship. The chest's design is not only functional but also symbolic, embodying the preservation of cultural heritage in a modern context.

The Hope Chest received 3rd place at the National Competition for Traditional Design, organized by the National Museum of the Romanian Peasant. This accolade underscores the piece’s success in balancing innovation with tradition, making it a meaningful object for contemporary homes that honors its cultural roots. The chest was showcased at BIFE 2012, where it stood as an example of how modern design can breathe new life into age-old customs.