Toko furniture design

New designs of Seika architectural students (Hayama studio) on "furniture based on the concept of toko". The one below which uses removable blocks to make ad-hoc table is particularly interesting.  Some students challenged on the issue of lighting too.  

The design above illustrates a bench on a 1-tatami board that can also act as a table... although it would feel strange to eat off a bench as a table, in reality.  In design, though, we are allowed think freely on boundary issues --that a table can also be a chair, etc.  I also questioned about ignoring Japanese way of sitting ON the tatami --seiza, all together.  There must be a reason that Japanese had insisted on living off the ground directly, although we all adopt the Western table and chairs now.  It's something to think about.  Why?

Another student's attempt to re-make the tatami into a spatial marker for genkan entry space:

After this furniture making exercise, I'll introduce the design studio part.  It's interesting to think about how to apply Japanese spatial concept and elements with new interpretations.  Thanks Kuriyama san from Knot for joining the review!!  (Kuriyama san said it'd be difficult to actually sell these furniture though.  These are students projects... but with interesting thoughts.)