Otto plate / Otto bowl designed by Takasu Gaku Design and Associates (Japan)

"Otto plate / bowl" are furniture products crafted in Shizuoka Prefecture, a place known for traditional wooden items like pepper mills and tableware, by young craftsmen and interior designers who collaborate to challenge themselves in creating new, modern, and avant-garde works on the foundation of tradition.l craftsmanship by infusing it with modern and avant-garde elements.

The theme is "Disassembly and Reconstruction" — the art of breaking down and then reassembling forms that have been assembled and processed. Throughout the crafting of wooden grinders, every step is carried out by hand, incorporating intentional slight deviations, tilts, rotations, and inversions into the reconstruction. Our aim was to create an iconic new wooden product that combines calculated geometric beauty with a warm, gentle form, thus bridging modern and traditional aesthetics.

These creations reflect the designer's meticulous attention to detail, including subtle angle adjustments, and the artisans' high level of craftsmanship, while also hinting at new possibilities in woodworking.

"Otto" means "8" in Italian. Within the seemingly monotonous cylindrical shape, there is an 8-degree inclined line that appears to float. This distinctive line imparts slight variations in silhouette and wood grain expression depending on the viewing angle, serving as a subtle yet assertive accent within the space.

Furthermore, besides the individual beauty of each piece, the distinctive feature lies in the rhythmic lines when the pieces are stacked. Even when not in use or stored away, it is a beautifully calculated product in its appearance.

Designer Profile

Website: https://gaku-design.com