Swedish architects and designers Claesson Koivisto Rune joined hands with expert Japanese carpenter Yuji Takahashi to create HAND, a wooden furniture collection recently showcased at the Designart Tokyo Design and Art Festival. In a conversation with Design Connect, Ola Rune, Partner at Claesson Koivisto Rune, shares the story behind the collection.
What is your idea of good design?
A good design is not only a new and well-thought-out idea but also the result of a fruitful collaboration between designer and manufacturer. This alliance leads to products that consumers genuinely desire to own.
What led to the inception of the HAND wooden furniture collection?
The collection emerged from our collaboration with Takahashi-san, one of Japan’s top craftsmen. During our first meeting, he showed me samples on his iPad, and when I saw the detailing, I thought, This is unreal. It’s impossible to make a box or tray like this. That inspired us to do something we had never attempted before – to see how far we could push ourselves and Takahashi-san.
What kind of wood has been used, and how long did it take to complete the collection?
From my initial meeting with Takahashi-san to the presentation at Tokyo Craft Room, the process took six months. For this collection, we chose traditional Japanese chestnut wood, primarily sourced from the Hiroshima region.
The furniture in this collection becomes thinner towards the edges. Is there symbolism in this, or is it purely design?
When we began working with Takahashi-san, we wanted to script a new design tale – a narrative of infinite possibilities where form and function merge. Every part in the HAND collection has convex surfaces, even the tabletop. This means objects placed on it don’t sit perfectly straight, but instead, offer guests a rare sensation of comfort and unity with the furniture. The design and functionality together shaped this unique outcome.
Will the furniture be available for sale? What was the response at Designart Tokyo?
The response was fantastic – many visitors came specifically to see our collection. Yes, the pieces are available for sale, and we offer limited size customization.
In your own words, what is the highlight of the HAND wooden furniture collection?
The highlights are the comfort each piece offers and the exquisite craftsmanship that brought them to life. These two aspects truly define the good work we’ve accomplished here.
What inspires your design work?
We are primarily inspired by modern art, but we also draw from traditional techniques of design, building, and woodworking from around the world. The best designs come from those who reinvent these ideas and techniques, adapting them to new contexts.
Connect Online: www.claessonkoivistorune.se
