Kawadoko Noho Lōʻihi by Shih An Ko is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2021 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Lako Hale Competition Category.

KeleaweLako Hale· 2021

Kawadoko Noho Lōʻihi

by Shih An Ko

Client: Chieh Nan Ko Architects

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Lako Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #121535

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Kawadoko Noho Lōʻihi

ʻO Kawadoko he noho lōʻihi lāʻau i hoʻolālāʻia e hāʻawi i ka maha mai ka wela o ke kauwela. Kēia inoa e pili ana i nā papa i kūkulu ʻia ma luna o nā muliwai ma Iapana i ka wā kauwela, kahi e hoʻomaha ai nā kānaka ma ka ʻaoʻao o ka wai kahe. Ua hana ʻia kēia noho lōʻihi mai ka lāʻau ʻoka keʻokeʻo, me ka hoʻohana ʻana i nā hui mortise a me tenon a me ka hoʻokaʻa lāʻau, a hahai ʻia ke ʻano o ka hoʻolālā hale lāʻau kuʻuna. ʻO nā kaʻawale lōʻihi ma waena o nā koʻokoʻo noho e ʻae ana i ka makani ke kau ma waena, e hāʻawi ana i kahi ʻike noho anuanu. Ua ʻākea aku ke kau noho ma mua o ka maʻamau, no laila hiki i nā mea hoʻohana ke noho me nā wāwae hui a i ʻole moe iho e hoʻomaha ai. ʻO nā kihi poepoe o nā koʻokoʻo, lilo lākou i lima paʻa ke hoʻoneʻe ʻia ka noho lōʻihi.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Kawadoko Noho Lōʻihi i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Kawadoko Noho Lōʻihi he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Kawadoko Noho Lōʻihi i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

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.