Kawadoko Banc by Shih An Ko is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award de Bronze in Design de Mobilier Competition Category.

BronzeMobilier· 2021

Kawadoko Banc

by Shih An Ko

Client: Chieh Nan Ko Architects

A' Design Award de Bronze Winner in Mobilier Category

10,844

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #121535

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Kawadoko Banc

Kawadoko est un banc en bois conçu pour offrir un répit face à la chaleur estivale. Son nom fait référence aux plateformes construites au-dessus des rivières au Japon durant l'été, où l'on vient se rafraîchir au bord de l'eau vive. Réalisé en chêne blanc, il fait appel à des assemblages à tenon et mortaise ainsi qu'au tournage sur bois, et reprend la structure de l'architecture traditionnelle en bois. Les larges intervalles entre les barreaux de l'assise laissent circuler l'air pour une expérience d'assise rafraîchissante. L'assise, plus large que la moyenne, permet de s'asseoir en tailleur ou de s'allonger pour se reposer. Les extrémités arrondies des barreaux font office de poignées lors du déplacement du banc.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award de Bronze

Kawadoko Banc est lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Bronze, une reconnaissance hautement prestigieuse décernée à des designs remarquables qui se distinguent par leur créativité, leur ingéniosité et leur sagacité. Les lauréats Bronze sont des artefacts amplement habiles et d'une créativité frappante, qui authentifient la vaste expérience, l'imagination et l'ingéniosité de leurs concepteurs. Kawadoko Banc est censé être un objet très estimé, admiré et chéri, remarquablement professionnel et innovant. Ce design lauréat de l'A' Design Award de Bronze intègre les meilleures pratiques de l'art, de la science, du design et de la technologie, et est excellent par son souci du détail. Kawadoko Banc satisfait admirablement les besoins, touche les désirs, charme les sentiments et attire la curiosité.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: Inspired by the memories of kawadoko, this bench is specially designed for escaping from the summer heat. The long gaps between the seat create a cool and well-ventilated sitting experience, and the rods that make up the seat are cut into flat surfaces to ensure comfort, while the edges remain circular, similar to the shape of bamboo, and serve as handles when moving the chair.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 430mm x Depth 1520mm x Height 460mm
Tags: bench, summer, nature, furniture
Production Technology: Production: tenon and mortise techniques, woodturning
Material: white oak
Design Challenge: The biggest challenge is the making of the 1.5 meters-long wooden rods, which requires customized jigs to stabilize during the making process. And the burnt marks on the curved surface, after several attempts,have been successfully erased using certain techniques.
Research: The project has explored the wooden structure of traditional Japanese architecture, and transformed it into the constructive concept of the design. Another research is about the relevance between furniture and human body scale,and how our body reacts in different circumstances, as these are the factors that refined the prototype in the process.
Inspiration: Kawadoko, which mean river floors, are patios built over the river by restaurants in Kibune during the summer. While kawadoko are temporary, they are quite sturdy-built with wood and bamboo.
In Kibune, people are only a few feet above the river as they can enjoy the sound of water, the breeze, and the mist.
Thinking Kawadoko as a pleasant escape from the summer heat, the design aims to evoke memories of kawadoko, bringing a sense of coolness into daily life.
Project Duration: The project started in August, 2020 and finished in January, 2021, Taiwan.
Operation Flow: The scale and dimension of this project has been carefully arranged to achieve a friendly user experience. The width of the bench is wider than the average, so that user can easily sit cross-legged or even lie down to rest. The height of the shelf is in exact position where the hands are naturally dropping,which means anything on the shelf are within reach.the round rods serve as handles when moving the bench. In addition, a foldable cushion can be used during winter to ensure comfort.