monokraft: the emotional side of wood furniture

31 May 2007 Category: Arts & Crafts, Features, Japan, Products

monokraft: the emotional side of wood furniture

"monokraft" funiture by "ea" design. Watch out for its subtle emotionality!

In a quiet alleyway away from the hustle of shopping-mad Omotesando, there is the creative space of ea furniture design. This is one of the places where a vivid mix of graphic designers, architects and even food coordinators gather. Moreover, every Saturday ea turns into a showroom for artists, open to the public. And, this is the place where cosy wood furniture is born. So, PingMag went along to have a chat with ea founder Toru Shimizu about his latest project, monokraft, to find out more about the emotional side of wood.

Written by Ryoko
Translated by Sally

First, what is the concept behind monokraft?

To us, monokraft is simply making the furniture that we want to make. We don’t have to give a thought about the clients’ needs as we we aren’t commissioned. So we don’t have to worry about profitability …although moneywise that’s pretty disastrous (laughs).

Toru Shimizu is explaining his furniture works to customers.

monokraft furniture is based on the idea that just as people age, furniture should age with them. That is why we use wood that’s sturdy and lasts well – so, even if a piece gets scratched or fades over time, it gradually feels even better to the touch.

For “monokraft” all kinds of wood are used.

How did you come up with this concept? I read that you spent some time in France as a child - does that somehow relate to it?

It wasn’t only the old streets where I was brought up in France - I think the shop where I was working part-time during university might have had more influence. It was a shop-cum-jazz café in Kamakura and I definitely feel more attached to that memory than being inspired by new things. Apart from that, I guess I’d say Johann Sebastian Bach is an influence for me.
I think of furniture as a tool for life; not something to just look at and enjoy for a short time like, say, clothes or movies. I mean, I wanted to make furniture you don’t getting tired of so easily, or have to think about. In that sense, I think the feeling of the furniture I want to make is expressed in Bach’s music. It’s not over-emotional, it’s expressed in terms of a defined pattern, but within that there is an emotional world. I think it’s possible to express that same sentiment through the medium of furniture.

The butterfly table, outdoors and indoors.

This box which was made for the Tokyu Hands store.

Did you always like to make things?

I guess so. I used to make accessory cases and things like that. However, I did make this white box at a workshop at Tokyu Hands and around that time I made up my mind to venture more into architecture. You know, with wood I can make more or less make any shape, as long as I have some basic DIY tools. That’s actually one of the reasons I really like to work with wood. We started our ea office in a former ironworks, so we were trying to work out ways of using the iron parts that were lying around and tried using it as a centre of gravity. This bookstand is one result. The material is basically garbage, but I do like it.

What a sophisticated book stand! The two holes were already in the iron, there just needed to be screws to connect it with the wood.

Another thing was this table: I thought it would be pretty straightforward, but when I actually started to work on it, it turned out to be a huge undertaking. I eventually finished it - but had to learn from all my mistakes!

Don’t worry! If you spill your coffee, the oiled surface of this table will soak it up.

Take this chair, for example. I wondered if I could make the wooden springs into a cushion. 2 years after I first started it, it’s finally at a stage where it can be used. Making chairs is difficult, but it’s huge amount of fun.

This elaborated chair with its new wood springs is made from a factory in Asahikawa in Hokkaido.

Look closer: the seat is quite flexible thanks to its springs. Very light!

Is there any deeper truth you discovered through making furniture?

The way I look at my favourite old pieces has changed. Now I have more of a sense for actually studying them. As the production techniques weren’t as developed in old times, you can see a real ingenuity in the old furniture. Something people just can’t come up with today. Some pieces might look worn out and tatty on the surface, but even after years you can still use it just fine. That’s great, isn’t it? That’s why studying old furniture is so important, and that’s why I want to keep working with it. Also, I have a bit of a complex since I don’t know so much about the history of traditional Japanese furniture. That is why I want to learn more about the time when chairs were used in Japan for the first time, and what kind of chairs that were. I always think that old furniture is bound up with the past, because so much of our predecessors’ wisdom remains in it. Being surrounded by the old objects gives me a sense that I can create new things. However, there is also a future (laughs). That’s why I think it’s also better not to demolish old buildings.

A frame for a record cover.

A wood plate and a frame for CDs.

Attach this board here…

.. and it’s easily a shelf!

The “ea” office with paintings by Masahiro Tomotake.

Toru Shimizu, thanks very much for talking to us today, and thanks for sharing the spirit behind monokraft with everyone! Check out the ea showroom – and don’t forget, it’s open to visitors every Saturday!

12 Comments

  1. brilliant side of wooden furniture, like the easily shelf idea, and the beautiful wooden texture

    Posted by: Happa on May 31st, 2007 at 11:37 pm

  2. [...] clipped from pingmag.jp [...]

    Posted by: 帶有情感的手作木工 « Gabriel In Taipei on June 1st, 2007 at 1:44 am

  3. It’s cool to see finely wood furniture. Also, those records cover frames are real nice, if anyone knows where to buy (online) something like that please do tell.

    Posted by: woodward on June 1st, 2007 at 8:29 am

  4. i love how simple and smooth the furniture is… clearly understands the natural beauty that is in the grain of the wood :]

    Posted by: gemma on June 1st, 2007 at 2:54 pm

  5. Great Furniture, but the “We don’t have to give a thought about the clients’ needs” is a bit funny in a comercial project at Omotesando! I wonder what Hannes Meyer could have to say about it ;)

    Posted by: Anonymous on June 1st, 2007 at 6:06 pm

  6. erm…i posted the last one…forgot to sign :D

    Posted by: pricca on June 1st, 2007 at 6:06 pm

  7. [...] ( text/image via pingmag.jp ) [...]

    Posted by: dérive » Blog Archive » monokraft: the emotional side of wood furniture on June 1st, 2007 at 9:35 pm

  8. i am all about wooden furniture!

    Posted by: Anonymous on June 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm

  9. Nice wood furniture!

    Posted by: jk on November 17th, 2007 at 12:03 pm

  10. naturalistic , simple . :)

    Posted by: Find all the furniture you need in one place on November 17th, 2007 at 12:10 pm

  11. naturalistic , simple . :)
    http://www.taqinternational.com

    Posted by: Find all the furniture you need in one place on November 17th, 2007 at 12:12 pm

  12. i like ur furniture very much..if u can send more pics..v can talk ahead..my mail id is
    kcexpo@gmail.com

    bbye

    Posted by: amit on February 13th, 2008 at 12:40 am

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