Daiku Bench

Daiku bench is based on inspiration from a specific place and a specific Japanese technique.

As a contribution to The Cabinetmakers Autumn Exhibition 2023 called "A Piece for A Place" with site specific designs, this piece is inspired by a beautiful powerhouse building by the Danish national rail company DSB’s former locomotive workshops on Otto Busses Vej. Today, the space is empty and has a meditative atmosphere, with large Romanesque windows and a beautiful exposed roof structure.  

The technique comes from the Japanese Daiku carpenters. When the carpenters process large pieces of timber for columns they use facets to control the large curvy shapes. I used this technique on a unique large piece of wood originated from Pierluigi Ghianda’s workshop in Milan. Ghianda’s adult daughters remember the large pieces lying in the workshop when they were little, which means this wood has been saved for decades, awaiting a special purpose.

The making was done in the spirit of the Japanese Dauki, using a lot of different hand tools to achieve the large carpentry joinery and the rounded shapes. The impressive size of the timber provide a sense of stability and calm, almost like sitting on a big tree trunk in the forest.

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