The Kolumba Museum is an excellent example of integrating the existing architecture with the new. The side tables used in the museum’s reading room are made using Japanese materials and techniques.

Rice cultivation has been the center of Japanese culture, and traditions such as pounding mochi (rice cakes) for celebrations still live today. We wondered if we could apply the technology of carving out zelkova logs to make usu (mortar) for pounding rice and thus create a product with a pure form.

The table carved out from a single zelkova log shows a beautiful grain on the sides, with a tabletop painted with a vibrant colour. The paint is only applied on the very top surface, creating a modern look of a contrast between the bright colour and the natural grain. The four brilliant colour variations add an accent to the space, and the two different size variations create a rhythm.

A tree that has lived a long time is reborn as a piece of furniture to become a part of human lives. The colour changes, the cracks appear, and the shape of the wood changes over time, resembling the primitive strength of nature.