Ribbon Metal Furniture Collection Takes Color Cues From Japan’s Edo Era
Japan Benex Corporation has launched the new Ribbon furniture collection designed by LA-based WAKA WAKA Studio for its EETAL project. The collection is made from aluminum and steel instead of plywood, aiming to transfer a distinct design language.
Waka Waka Studio, led by Shinichiro Okuda, mostly works with plywood, whereas Benex specializes in sheet metal processing technology. Therefore, the studio had to temporarily abandon its regular birch plywood and start working with Benex. It was an opportunity and a challenge for Waka Waka designer Shinichiro Okuda to explore the design possibilities with metal.
The collection comprises a chair, table, and stool alongside smaller accessories like a cloth hanger, a tray, and two clothes racks. Unlike plywood’s warmth, metal brings cool, sleek, and industrial characteristics to the furniture. To add warmth and a sense of nature, Okuda gave the folded edges a continuous ribbon-like appearance.
Each piece of the design carries geometric shapes like circles and squares. The joints, fittings, and metal surfaces remained visible, while colors and curves softened the roughness without denying their industrial origin.
The color scheme creates a stronger contrast and combines two different styles to look unique. Japan’s flourishing Edo period played a crucial role in picking the color combination like yellow, black, and gray, while the addition of blue draws on one of the existing standard factory Benex colors.
This collection is low maintenance compared to wooden counterparts; it won’t attract termites, insects, or fire, ensuring timeless durability. The ribbon frames and clean lines give a sleek, industrial style that fits well in modern rooms. Metals like steel and aluminum can be recycled easily when you no longer need them, aligning with circular manufacturing principles.
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It has been exhibited across Japan; the upcoming schedule is Los Angeles in September, followed by Fukuoka and Nagasaki. Japanese audiences would relate the Edo-era color reference as culturally specific.
It will be interesting to see how the Western audience responds to these industrial aesthetics. The Ribbon collection is now available to purchase from EETAL, with prices starting from $154.
Via: dezeen
