flattened piping becomes linear backrest in masaya kawamoto’s oxidized steel chair

Masaya Kawamoto launches pf chair at designart tokyo 2024

Tokyo-based designer Masaya Kawamoto introduces the PF Chair, a seating design product of unique craftsmanship, launched at DESIGNART TOKYO 2024. By flattening sections of round piping, Kawamoto achieves a soft, linear backrest, which defines the form of the seat. The PF Chair can be disassembled, ensuring efficient packaging and straightforward assembly. Crafted from stainless steel, each piece undergoes a salt bath coloring process, which oxidizes the metal to create intricate surface patterns without paints or pigments. 

images courtesy of Masaya Kawamoto

each seat varies according to the type of stainless steel used

Product designer Masaya Kawamoto named the PF Chair to highlight its defining techniques: Press and Flat, which are integral to its structure. Each chair is crafted and hand-colored by artisans, with its appearance subtly shifting depending on the stainless steel properties and the high-temperature kiln process used during production. Available in two distinct finishes—Oboro [朧] for the armchair and Kasumi [霞] for the armless version—the final color of each piece varies based on the type of stainless steel, material thickness, and cooling speed, ensuring that every chair has a unique, one-of-a-kind look.

Masaya Kawamoto introduces the PF Chair

the PF Chair can be disassembled, ensuring efficient packaging and straightforward assembly

product of unique craftsmanship

the chair was launched at DESIGNART TOKYO 2024

the backrest defines the form of the chair

crafted from stainless steel

each chair undergoes coloring process which oxidizes the metal

intricate surface patterns adorn the chair without the use of paints or pigments

1/10

each chair is carefully crafted

the pieces are hand-colored by artisans

the stainless steel properties subtly shift the appearance

the color of the final product varies with the type of stainless steel

available in two finishes

Kasumi [霞] finish clads the armless version

Oboro [朧] finish covers the armchair

resulting in a one-of-a-kind appearance for each piece

material thickness and cooling speed affect the final result

high-temperature kiln process is used in production

project info:

name: PF chair
designer: Masaya Kawamoto | @masaya.kawamoto

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edited by: thomai tsimpou | designboom