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

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
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.

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
low basket

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
detail

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
tray

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
high basket

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
‘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.

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
detail

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
‘crisis chair’

piet hein eek fair trade palmwood series
‘crisis desk and chair’ in lacquered grey