G8 BENCH by TORAFU ARCHITECTS
DESIGN NOTE
Lobby benches derived from the spatial design
Unique gate shape, only curved inside
photography : Kenta Hasegawa
words : Reiji Yamakura/IDREIT
TORAFU ARCHITECTS has designed a custom-made wooden bench for Recruit Ginza 8 Building. It was developed for the entrance lobby of the building, which TORAFU ARCHITECTS has renovated. When the lobby was refurbished, They built a new small cafe next to the gallery, where artists could meet and socialise. At the time, the design team could not find a suitable ready-made bench for the space, so they proposed an original design in the simple gate shape.
When we asked the design concept, the design duo Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro said, "In contrast to the rigid materials used in the original interior, such as the stone floor and the mirror-finished ceiling, we used chestnut wood to create a soft impression, straight shape on the outside but curved on the inside. The material is solid, but the unique puffy shape looks light in some angles. We designed this bench for use at parties and lectures at the gallery and use by office workers.
This bench was manufactured by Karimoku, a highly-skilled furniture manufacturer, and has a smooth surface finish. It is available in three dyed colours: natural, grey and black.
DETAIL
CREDIT + INFO
Name: G8 BENCH
Design: Koichi Suzuno, Shinya Kamuro / TORAFU ARCHITECTS
Manufacturer: Karimoku
Completion: 2020
Material: laminated chestnut
Colour: natural, grey, black