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japanese firm TORAFU architects has designed a series of elegant wooden benches with integrated walking stick handles. each version of the dōzo bench is complete with a purpose made cane, which both serves as a novelty leg for the bench and as a means of support to elderly patrons as they stand up and sit down.

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each version of the dōzo bench is complete with a purpose made cane

 

 

‘this bench beckons passersby to sit down as if saying ‘dōzo suwatte kudasai’, which is japanese for ‘please, have a seat’, explains TORAFU architects. in designing the chair, the firm wanted to create a seat that could be shared by passersby, while remaining the property of a private individual. the dōzo bench comes in 3 individual styles, each with a different cane handle design: a U-shaped head, a dome head and a traditional cane support.

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the cane both serves as a novelty leg for the bench, and as a means of support to elderly patrons

 

 

elegant and simple, the dōzo bench is crafted from just two primary materials: red cedar is used for the seat while steel is used for the frame and legs — one of which extends through the wood to become a cane. the seat’s bevelled edges pair with the rounded steel legs and sloping head of the cane to create a smooth and inviting silhouette. the firm hope that the humble nature and playful design of the bench will encourage urban interactions and chance social encounters: ‘we sought to transform the city landscape with these outdoor benches to be placed in front of houses’.

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the firm wanted to create a seat that could be shared by passersby while remaining private property

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the dōzo bench comes in 3 individual styles, each with an different cane head design

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elegant and simple, the dozo bench is crafted from just two primary materials

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red cedar is used for the seat while steel is used for the frame and legs

torafu-architects-dozo-bench-designboom-08the firm hope that the playful design of the bench will encourage urban interactions and chance social encounters

 

project info: 

 

principle use: product(prototype)
production: tanseisha co., ltd.
material: red cedar /steel /ready-made cane
size: w1000mm×d235mm×h720mm/sh450mm
design period: 2016.04-2016.06
production period: 2016.06
images by: yosuke owashi /masaki ogawa

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