Nendo: Akimoku

The Japanese design studio creates a new furniture collection for Edition Blue: inspired by the archives of historical company Akita Mokko, the pieces feature new details and reduced costs.

Japanese design studio Nendo has designed a new furniture collection for Edition Blue by Otsuka that takes advantage of the unique techniques and skills of Akimoku (Akita Mokko), Japan’s only specialist bentwood furniture maker. Nendo selected a number of pieces from the firm’s 102-year archive, then modified them to emphasise the charm of the bentwood details, simplify parts to reduce costs and add new functionality.

Nendo: Akimoku per Edition Blue — Top and above: Nendo, "Akimoku" collection for Edition Blue by Otsuka

Nendo's process of reforming and updating aimed to bring out the distinctive nature of the existing designs, while keeping down costs such as new metal molds and fixtures. The studio used startegies such as turning the legs of a stool upside down and using them as the legs for a low table, and reused the legs of a dining table as the legs for a workbench-style table.

Nendo: Akimoku for Edition Blue by Otsuka — Nendo, "Akimoku" collection for Edition Blue by Otsuka

The studio also painted the top of the backrest for the Akimoku Windsor chair in a variety of colours from the 720mm mark upwards, the height of a dining table. This retains the simple, natural finish of the chairs, but provides an unexpected visual delight when the chairs are pulled together at the table. Nendo also changed the fabric for sofa cushions and made them reversible.

Nendo: Akimoku

The Japanese design studio creates a new furniture collection for Edition Blue: inspired by the archives of historical company Akita Mokko, the pieces feature new details and reduced costs.

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