piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series

during tokyo designers week 2010,  japanese company CIBONE presented an exhibition of works by dutch designer piet hein eek.

bowl on foot

on show was his ‘fair trade palmwood series’. these baskets are developed in vietnam in collaboration with wood craftsmen and each one is constructed from palm trees. because there is the chance that the palm wood might change due to humidity, the wooden pieces of each design are connected together by a small piece of transparent thread.

low basket

detail

tray

high basket

‘crisis desk’

also on show at CIBONE was piet hein eek’s ‘crisis collection’ which includes the ‘crisis desk and chair’. the plywood construction is CNC routered to obtain its shape. the techniques used for the pieces are meant to bring attention to the material at hand. the surface of the desk and chair are left rough around the edges, scratching easily, continuously giving character to the furniture pieces.

detail

‘crisis chair’

‘crisis desk and chair’ in lacquered grey