

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
assembly of the ‘soba’ bench and trestle
video courtesy of stefan diez office
‘soba’ collection by stefan diez for japan creative
image © jonathan mauloubier
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very nice
Very cool and great use of bamboo’s properties! I have a question. I teach design class where I make students to collect invasive bamboo in Baltimore and have them figure out uses for it as durable and useful objects. Judging from the video and photos, it looks like bamboo shown is very fresh and green. What happens when it dries? My students have issue with bamboo splitting and warping. Any info is appreciated, since we do hope to find ways to work with this abundant and wonderful material. Inna