stefan diez reinterprets the traditional bamboo bench for japan creative

stefan diez reinterprets the traditional bamboo bench for japan creative
image © jonathan mauloubier

japan creative is an initiative founded by tokyo-based designer and art director masaaki hiromura, sponsored by shibuya department store SEIBU. its purpose is to promote the the ancient heritage of japanese manufacturing and crafts, by inviting international designers to collaborate with great japanese masters on contemporary design projects.

the ‘soba’ collection is comprised of various sized benches and trestles
image © jonathan mauloubier

each year, japan creative selects a small group of creatives to participate in its program. for 2015, barberosgerby, pierre charpin and stefan diez were invited to work with bamboo master yoshihiro yamagishi at his workshop on kochi island in the south of japan.

detail of the ‘soba’ trestle
image © jonathan mauloubier

munich-based designer stefan diez’s involvement has seen him reinterpret the traditional bamboo bench — a seating typology that is still widely used in many places in japan, but has become almost invisible in terms of the recognition that it receives. diez has envisioned ‘soba’ which takes this customary object and has given it a twist, by employing a construction that allows it to be easily assembled — ideal in the contemporary context of furnishings. his resulting work is being presented at the 2015 stockholm furniture fair.

detail of the bamboo construction
image © jonathan mauloubier

comprised of a trestle and bench in various lengths, stefan diez has conceived ‘soba’ as an almost flat-packed collection, which makes it possible to sell the design online. the pieces are made primarily of bamboo wood, whose components are fastened together using kevlar rope, cleverly put together and tightened by hand to ensure stability.

top view of the ‘soba’ trestle supporting a glass tabletop
image © jonathan mauloubier

over time the bamboo will enjoy a grey green patina
image © jonathan mauloubier

end detail
image © jonathan mauloubier

the bamboo components are attached to one another using a kevlar rope system
image © jonathan mauloubier

profile of the ‘soba’ trestle
image © jonathan mauloubier

testing the strength of the ‘soba’ bamboo bench
image © jonathan mauloubier

detail of how the bamboo has been cut and bent to hold multiple stalks together, forming the bench seat
image © jonathan mauloubier

‘soba’ components disassembled
image © jonathan mauloubier

bamboo and kevlar rope detail
image © jonathan mauloubier

image © jonathan mauloubier

‘soba’ collection by stefan diez for japan creative
image © jonathan mauloubier