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De Intuïtiefabriek × Woodwork / SOMA [Story2] Designing a cabinet inspired by the forest

Places of production, spaces where conversations about new possibilities can unfold in earnest, are where De Intuïtiefabriek start to explore ideas for their next creation. As the designers began to process their field research, from Masaru Kawai’s workshop to the forest and beyond, they delved further into Japanese architecture and woodworking, making a crucial discovery that embodied much of what they had experienced in Gifu. 

“We found this word, kodama, which in Japanese means the soul of a tree,” explains designer Eefiene Bolhuis, noting its connection to the story of Kawai. “We decided to use it as the design concept and from then on, we were always thinking about translating the character of a tree into the design.”

Building upon some of their early design concepts for a wooden cabinet, which explored the ideas of stacking, patchwork and overlapping, they played with different ways to incorporate the various characteristics of a tree. Referencing bark, growth rings, aromas and other elements, they developed a series of miniature prototypes using wood and paper. Quick and conceptual, the models played a key role in the design process, providing ideas with a tangible form to be processed, discussed and explored further. Drawing on Kawai’s technical insights, they developed a design that would convey the stories they had discovered during their research. 

gn is a combination of layering several elements of the tree back together, layering solids with translucent materials and layering heavy structures with thin lines,” says Bolhuis.

The minimal cabinet is constructed from Japanese cedar and Mino paper, a combination often associated with shoji, architectural panels used as doors, windows and internal dividers. Grown in the mountains of Gifu and featuring prominently in Kawai’s work, cedar was selected not only for its strong connection to the craftsman himself, but for the distinctive aroma that evolves as the trees age. The local landscape is also reflected in the choice of traditional Mino paper, a delicate white material with a history that spans 1,300 years. 

Creating layers within the cabinet itself, the designers explored the characteristics of the respective materials. “Paper is always boxed in by wood to make it more durable and firm. We wanted to play with this idea by showing the fragile paper in contrast with the heavy wood,” explains Bolhuis. This contrast is visible along the edge of each door, where the paper has been left partially unframed in order to create a unique and unconventional detail.

Returning to the idea of the soul of a tree, the influence of the designers’ walks through the forest emerges in a number of ways. The full-height door handles retain the tree’s organic shape and provide a feel for the natural contours of the trunk, while the positioning of the doors at the front and rear invites the user to walk around the cabinet and consider it from different angles ― not unlike a tree in the forest. These details, combined with translucent paper panels that make the objects inside appear as mysterious silhouettes, create an unspoken invitation to open the doors and discover what lies within. 

>>Continued in Story 3

De Intuïtiefabriek

De Intuïtiefabriek is a design studio since 2012 in Amsterdam with a vision based on their intuitive way of working in which the use of materials and techniques are essential. They bring them to create within different fields of design; from slipcasting porcelain to blowing glass and bending wood. The outcomes vary from furniture to tableware. To De Intuïtiefabriek designing is all about craftsmanship, the touch of material and the actual act of making things. Their aim is to create perfectly crafted products, from which you can feel the love with which they were made. They create a pure, precise and elegant feeling, taking the observer into a new world.

www.deintuitiefabriek.nl

SOMA

SOMA is a lifestyle brand focusing on the products made of coniferous. The director is Mr. Masaru Kawai, a Japanese wood artist. He established that with the aim to communicate Japanese ancient wooden culture to the present age. The brand has a wide range of activities related to wooden culture, including selling original products, workshops, and talk shows.“SOMA” is originated from the word “杣 (soma)”, the name of people who lived and worked with woods in the mountains in Japan. 

madebysoma.com

“Ranma” Cabinet

Size:
W1100 H1800 D400 mm

Material:
国産杉、美濃和紙 / Japanese cedar , Japanese “Mino” Paper

Price:
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