Naguri

Naguri Bench

The name ‘Naguri’ refers to a Japanese cutting method, where large, identical cuts are made all over the surface of the wood using a special curved axe. This approach is used in high-end settings in Japan, for example teahouses or traditional hotels, often on surfaces where you walk barefoot, so you can sense the texture. 

I analysed the underlying geometric principles behind the method and used computer software to create a mathematically precise pattern with the same tactile properties. I used the computer’s precision to achieve a smoother, more reflecting surface, which creates new aesthetic qualities. For the first version of the pattern, I was able to do the programming myself, as I could borrow a CNC milling machine at the Danish Art Workshops. The milling leaves a fairly rough surface, which I subsequently polished smooth using round scrapers and dome-shaped sanding blocks.

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INSPIRATION: NAGURI TECHNIQUE - KYOTO · JAPAN

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INSPIRATION: SUKIYA STYLE JOINERY - KYOTO - JAPAN

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The way the legs are joined to the seat was inspired by a particular type of joint used in Japanese teahouses built in the sukiya style. On my first trip to Japan, I worked with the renowned teahouse builders in the Nakamura Komuten workshop in Kyoto, Japan. The master journeyman Kobayashi-san lent me samples of the joints, so I could take them apart and study them. The joints provide the most beautiful transitions between round elements, as shown here, between barked tree trunks with a rough surface. 

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