Layer
Stool for Fujiwara Fuma
The project started with making furniture out of small-diameter trees and scrap wood. Wood in Okinawa is felled due to natural disasters and road expansion. However, in recent years, road expansion has decreased due to environmental considerations, so wood is also shrinking. To continue making Okinawa furniture, it was necessary to use small materials. Therefore, the Layer stool were created by combining various types of wood. It is made from upcycled waste. This design proposes a new value by reconstructing the waste material from Okinawan wood into blocks.
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Download Press Kit № 150916 Stool for Fujiwara Fuma by Fuma Fujiwara to access high-res images, essential texts, translations, and exclusive interviews—all in one.
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Layer by Fuma Fujiwara
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Stool by Fuma Fujiwara
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Fuma Fujiwara Layer
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Fuma Fujiwara Stool
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Fujiwara Fuma Brand Logo
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Layer Stool Press Releases
Our Layer press releases are ready in languages: English, for your convenience.
Layer Stool Translations
We ensure Layer is globally understood with translations available in these languages: Kruk AF, Stol SQ, ሰገራ AM, كرسي AR, Աթոռակը HY, Tabure AZ, Taburetea EU, Зэдлік BE, স্টুল BN, Tabure BS, Табуретката BG, Stool MY, Tamboret CA, Bangkito CEB, Chopondapo NY, 凳子 ZY, 凳子 ZH, Taburete CO, Tabure HR, Stolička CS, Skammel DA, Kruk NL, Tabureto EO, Järi ET, Jakkara FI, Tabouret FR, Stòl GD, Taburete GL, ტაბურეტი KA, Hocker DE, Το Σκαμπό EL, સ્ટૂલ GU, Taboure HT, Stool HA, Noho HAW, שרפרף HE, स्टूल HI, Kwv teeb HMN, A Széklet HU, Stóll IS, Stool IG, Bangku ID, Stól GA, Lo Sgabello IT, スツール JA, Stool JV, ಕಾಲ್ಮಣೆ KN, табуретка KK, កៅអី KM, Intebe RW, 의자 KO, Tabure KU, Табурет KY, ອາຈົມ LO, Scabellum LA, Izkārnījumi LV, Taburetė LT, Hocker LB, Столче MK, Seza bory MG, Bangku MS, പാദപീ ഠ ML, Ippurgar MT, Tūru MI, स्टूल MR, Өтгөн MN, कुर्सी NE, Krakk NO, ଆସନ OR, ستول PS, چهار پایه FA, Stołek PL, Banco PT, Kurasī PA, Scaun RO, Табурет RU, Nofoa SM, хоклица SR, Stool SN, اسٽول SD, පුටුව SI, Taburetka SK, Tabure SL, Kursi SO, Setulo ST, Stool EN, El Taburete ES, Korsi SU, Kiroto SW, Pall SV, Upuan TL, ихроx кунад TG, நாற்காலி TA, Табурет TT, కుర్చీ TE, ตั่ง TH, Tabure TR, Oturgyç TK, Табурет UK, قَدَمچَہ UR, ئورۇندۇق UG, Tabure UZ, Ghế Đẩu VI, Stôl CY, Kruk FY, Isitulo XH, בענקל YI, Otita YO, Isihlalo ZU.
Layer Stool Media Articles
Ready-to-feature articles on Layer are available in these languages: French, Dutch, Hindi, Chinese (Mandarin), English, Portuguese, Italian, German, Turkish, Korean, Indonesian, Arabic (Standard), Japanese, Russian and Spanish, for your convenience.
Unique Properties
This project used small-diameter trees and scrap wood to make furniture. Wood in Okinawa is felled due to natural disasters and road expansion. Large pieces of wood are needed to make furniture. Therefore, I made woodcuts by combining a wide variety of woods. They are made by upcycling discarded materials. This design proposes a new value for the colorful "Okinawa tree".
Tags
stool, furniture, Okinawa, End material
Production Technology
To continue making Okinawan furniture, we need a way to use materials without waste. Therefore, we collected small pieces of wood and trees with small diameters discarded at lumber shops and workshops. Seat : Camphor tree, Melia azedarach, Magnolia compressa, Castanopsis sieboldii, Acacia confusa, Pinus luchuensis, Tetradium glabrifolium, Trema orientalis, Podocarpus macrophyllus. Legs : Acacia confusa. Finish: beeswax.
Design Challenge
Layers are created by stacking trees. Those layers are usually horizontal. To show all the trees on the surface, I was inspired to express this by making the layers slanted. Creating the diagonal layers was the most challenging part. The diagonal layers created beautiful curves. I also tried to find a way to combine light and dark colors in the wood combination.
Project Duration
The project started in Okinawa in January 2023. The first deliverable was completed in March 2023 and exhibited at the Tokyo International Furniture Fair (IFFT).
Operation Flow
The hand-carved seat has a gentle slope. The indentation in the center of the chair gently fits your waist. The seat and legs of the chair can be disassembled. It is compact and portable and can be transported in flat-pack packaging. When assembling, it can be manufactured immediately just by inserting the legs.
Research
Okinawa is Japan's southernmost archipelago and was once called the Ryukyu Kingdom. Okinawa has long had a different culture from Japan's main island, and other types of wood have been used. Twenty years ago, trees with large diameters were circulating in Okinawa, but recently the diameter of the trees in circulation is about 35 centimeters, and the material is shrinking. Finding a way to utilize small materials was necessary to sustain Okinawan furniture production, so the research began.
Inspiration
I live in Okinawa, an island in the south of Japan. Okinawa is known as the only subtropical region in Japan and has unique vegetation and culture. Many kinds of trees live on the island. Many types of trees are unique to the island, and I was surprised that there were many characteristic features, such as the trees color, smell, and texture. I made this furniture using nine kinds of Okinawan trees to let people know about Okinawan trees.
Image Credits
[Image # 1: Photographer Fuma Fujiwara, Layer Stool, 2023] [Image # 2: Photographer Fuma Fujiwara, Layer Stool, 2023] [Image # 3: Photographer Fuma Fujiwara, Layer Stool, 2023] [Image # 4: Photographer Fuma Fujiwara, Layer Stool, 2023] [Image # 5: Photographer Fuma Fujiwara, Layer Stool, 2023]
Project Overview
Layer Stool has been a Silver winner in the Furniture Design award category in the year 2022 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Silver Recognition
Fuma Fujiwara was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2023, a testament to excellence of their work Layer Stool.
Fuma Fujiwara Press Releases
We provide a series of press releases on Fuma Fujiwara that journalists and press members can freely incorporate into their narratives. 1 press releases are now available for immediate access by journalists.
Layer Stool: A Unique Upcycled Furniture Design Inspired by Okinawan Trees
Fuma Fujiwara Unveils Layer Stool at Tokyo International Furniture Fair 2023
Fuma Fujiwara Newsroom
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