GGO Biomorphic Primäre Funktion: Lobby-Möbel by Yoko Komatsu and Hajime Tokura

GGO Biomorphic Primäre Funktion: Lobby-Möbel by Yoko Komatsu and Hajime Tokura is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award in Gold in Möbeldesign Competition Category.

GoldMöbel· 2026

GGO Biomorphic Primäre Funktion: Lobby-Möbel

by Yoko Komatsu and Hajime Tokura

Client: Grand Green Osaka JV Group

A' Design Award in Gold Winner in Möbel Category

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The Design

About GGO Biomorphic Primäre Funktion: Lobby-Möbel

Buchtext: Diese im Grand Green Osaka gelegene, 16 Meter lange biomorphe Sitzbank ist aus japanischer Eiche gefertigt. Modernste digitale Fertigungstechnik wird eingesetzt, um über 6.000 Einzelteile zu 29 organischen Einheiten zusammenzufügen. Sämtliche Metallverbindungen werden durch ein verdecktes Fügesystem erfolgreich verborgen. In diesem skulpturalen öffentlichen Möbelstück verschmilzt traditionelles Handwerk mit parametrischem, computergestütztem Design. Es ist so konzipiert, dass es innerhalb des Lobbybereichs sowohl als entspannende Sitzbank als auch als Pflanzgefäß dient.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award in Gold

GGO Biomorphic Primäre Funktion: Lobby-Möbel ist Gewinner des A' Design Award in Gold, einer überaus prestigeträchtigen Anerkennung für erstklassige, wunderbare und herausragende Designs. Gold-Gewinner sind äußerst innovative, visionäre und glamourös blendende Schöpfungen, die das Genie, die Weisheit und die Meisterschaft ihrer Designer widerspiegeln. Von GGO Biomorphic Primäre Funktion: Lobby-Möbel wird erwartet, dass es eine hochgepriesene, trendsetzende und monumentale Erfindung ist, die beispiellosen Mehrwert liefert. Dieses mit dem A' Design Award in Gold prämierte Design ist ein spektakuläres, respektiertes Projekt, das den Grenzen von Kunst, Wissenschaft, Design und Technologie in hohem Maße zugutekommt und sie voranbringt. GGO Biomorphic Primäre Funktion: Lobby-Möbel erzeugt intensive Gefühle des Verlangens, weckt Leidenschaft, ermutigt zur Kreativität und fasziniert uns.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: This 16-meter long furniture bridges the boundary between a static office lobby and a lush urban park. The design process fused analog and digital techniques: organic forms created by hand-molded clay models were 3D-scanned to capture vitality that computational design alone cannot produce. Crafted from 100 percent domestic Japanese oak using precision computer numerical control cutting, the structure conceals all metal joints, creating a seamless, life-like wooden landscape.
Dimensions & Packaging: Dimensions: Total Length 16,000 mm. The structure is composed of vertically laminated plywood panels utilizing domestic Japanese oak. It functions as both a large-scale public bench and a planter. The modular units were precision-cut in the factory and assembled on-site to achieve millimeter-level accuracy across the massive 16-meter span. The design adheres to strict safety standards.
Tags: Biomorphic Design, Public Furniture, Japanese Oak, Digital Fabrication, Parametric Design, Office Lobby, Wellness, Sustainable Design, Wood Craft, Bench
Production Technology: The project is constructed from 100 percent domestic Japanese oak laminated panels. To handle the high density of oak and prevent grain tear-out during computer numerical control fabrication, the engineering team developed custom cutting tools and parameters. A key innovation is the concealed joint system featuring rotating wooden rings to cover assembly bolts, ensuring a seamless pure wood aesthetic without visible metal parts. Over 6,000 intricately milled parts were hand-finished.
Design Challenge: The main challenge was translating the hand-molded clay's organic warmth into digital data. Initial 3D scans contained noise, making precise modeling of over 6,000 parts impossible. This was overcome by using parametric algorithms to extract and smooth cross-sections. Furthermore, to bypass the CNC milling risks of hard Japanese oak and ensure structural safety, rigorous full-scale prototyping was conducted, successfully fusing analog craftsmanship with advanced digital manufacturing.
Research: Research Objectives: To connect a static lobby with a dynamic park. Methodology and Data Collection: The project utilized an analog-to-digital translation. Clay models were hand-sculpted to verify comfort and volume, then 3D-scanned. Results: This captured organic irregularities lost in pure computation. Full-scale prototyping verified strict safety standards. Insights and Impacts: The project demonstrates how digital fabrication can preserve human touch using underused domestic hardwood.
Inspiration: Inspired by the unique context of Grand Green Osaka, where a vast urban park meets a sophisticated office tower, the goal was to bring the vitality of nature indoors and to bridge the boundary between the static lobby and the dynamic greenery outside. Inspiration was drawn from analog processes, using hand-molded clay models to capture organic warmth and complex undulations that computational design alone cannot produce, offering a moment of healing to busy office workers.
Project Duration: The project was completed in May 2025. It is installed at the Park Tower lobby, Grand Green Osaka, located at 5-54 Ofukacho, Kita-ku, Osaka, Japan.
Operation Flow: Designed for the lobby of a high-rise, this bench bridges the gap between the office environment and the adjacent park. Users can sit, recline, or wait, experiencing the warmth of wood. The floating organic form invites touch and offers a surprisingly soft seating experience, described by users as being embraced. It functions as a biophilic element that alleviates stress for office workers and visitors, providing a moment of tranquility.
Patents: Copyrights belong to KOKUYO Co., Ltd., 2025.
Team Members: Principal Designer: Yoko Komatsu
Project Director: Takashi Ueda
Technical Supervisor: Katsuhito Yui
Technical Supervisor: Mamoru Yamazaki
Assistant Designer: Hotaka Inagaki
Lead Architect: Hajime Tokura
Production Designer: Shimpei Ogawa
Engineer: Pyaezone Aungsoe
Fabricator: Yasufumi Hanada
Fabricator: Yoji Konishi
Fabricator: Kazuki Nagao
Image Credits: Image #1: Creator KOKUYO Co., Ltd., GGO Biomorphic, 2025.
Image #2: Photographer Hayato Kurobe, GGO Biomorphic, 2025.
Image #3: Photographer Hayato Kurobe, GGO Biomorphic, 2025.
Image #4: Photographer Hayato Kurobe, GGO Biomorphic, 2025.
Image #5: Creator KOKUYO Co., Ltd., GGO Biomorphic, 2025.