Bronze Furniture Design · 2021
Kawadoko Bench
by Shih An Ko
- A' Design Award 2021 Bronze Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2021
- CLIENT: Chieh Nan Ko Architects
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 10,771
- Verification code 862F47BFDB · Verify this award
About Kawadoko Bench
Kawadoko is a wooden bench designed to offer relief from summer heat. The name refers to platforms built over rivers in Japan during summer, where people cool down beside running water. The bench is made of white oak, using mortise and tenon joints and woodturning, and follows the structure of traditional wooden architecture. Long gaps between the seat rods allow air to pass through for a cool sitting experience. The seat is wider than average, so users can sit cross-legged or lie down to rest. The rounded rod edges serve as handles when the bench is moved.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Inspired by the memories of kawadoko, this bench is specially designed for escaping from the summer heat. The long gaps between the seat create a cool and well-ventilated sitting experience, and the rods that make up the seat are cut into flat surfaces to ensure comfort, while the edges remain circular, similar to the shape of bamboo, and serve as handles when moving the chair.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width 430mm x Depth 1520mm x Height 460mm
- Tags
- bench, summer, nature, furniture
- Production Technology
- Production: tenon and mortise techniques, woodturning
Material: white oak - Design Challenge
- The biggest challenge is the making of the 1.5 meters-long wooden rods, which requires customized jigs to stabilize during the making process. And the burnt marks on the curved surface, after several attempts,have been successfully erased using certain techniques.
- Project Duration
- The project started in August, 2020 and finished in January, 2021, Taiwan.
- Operation Flow
- The scale and dimension of this project has been carefully arranged to achieve a friendly user experience. The width of the bench is wider than the average, so that user can easily sit cross-legged or even lie down to rest. The height of the shelf is in exact position where the hands are naturally dropping,which means anything on the shelf are within reach.the round rods serve as handles when moving the bench. In addition, a foldable cushion can be used during winter to ensure comfort.
- Research
- The project has explored the wooden structure of traditional Japanese architecture, and transformed it into the constructive concept of the design. Another research is about the relevance between furniture and human body scale,and how our body reacts in different circumstances, as these are the factors that refined the prototype in the process.
- Inspiration
- Kawadoko, which mean river floors, are patios built over the river by restaurants in Kibune during the summer. While kawadoko are temporary, they are quite sturdy-built with wood and bamboo.
In Kibune, people are only a few feet above the river as they can enjoy the sound of water, the breeze, and the mist.
Thinking Kawadoko as a pleasant escape from the summer heat, the design aims to evoke memories of kawadoko, bringing a sense of coolness into daily life.