Distillation of Architecture: 家具

Bringing together architects and makers from Japan, this exhibition reconsiders the concept of furniture in relation to architecture, through a process of ‘distillation’ – the refinement of ideas, materials and processes. Four architects have each been paired with a maker and asked to rethink a piece of furniture or domestic structure. The resulting works demonstrate how living spaces can be transformed through architectural and material thinking. 

The etymology of the English word ‘furniture’ traces back to the French fourniture and the Latin mobiles, referring to objects and devices that combine mobility, adaptability and a degree of durability to fulfil the functions of life. In contrast, the Japanese word for furniture is 家具(kagu), which combines the characters 家 (house) and 具 (means, or tools), reflecting an arrangement of things that facilitate ways of living that were centred around the floor: recalling a time before the existence of furniture as we now know it.

While contemporary furniture is often commercially mass-produced and therefore detached from the home, architects in Japan are challenging this norm. They combine architectural elements with furniture, playfully echoing the diverse forms that contemporary lifestyles can take. These practitioners pursue mobility, connectivity and compactness in their work, sharing an affinity with makers who apply traditional techniques to modern materials to achieve an economy of means. This approach skillfully navigates legal and economic challenges to create harmonious and environmentally sensitive living spaces.

Symposium: Jan 17, 2025, 2 p.m.