Torafu Architects reinvent the desk with fantastic charm and style

Date
24 August 2012

If there’s product designers on more of a roll than Japanese studio Torafu right now then we’d love to see their stuff because these guys are absolutely on fire (not literally). Whether it;s installing 800 wind chimes in a Tokyo department store or producing a shelf that doubles as a secret hiding place drawer, they have amazingly good ideas which they execute with that often-elusive combination of style and charm.

My favourite recent project of theirs though are the koloro desk and stools for the Ichiro brand. Torafu’s team understand that a desk is much more than an object, it’s a manifestation of the user’s mindset and as such they allow their spaces to be intimate, private and customisable from the colour to the set-up.

And though my complete lack of Japanese prevents me from fully understanding their website, it’s definitely one of those occasions where their actions speak louder than words. Tremendous stuff.

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Torafu Architects: Koloro Desk/Stools

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Torafu Architects: Koloro Desk/Stools

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Torafu Architects: Koloro Desk/Stools

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Torafu Architects: Koloro Desk/Stools

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Torafu Architects: Koloro Desk/Stools

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Torafu Architects: Koloro Desk/Stools

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Torafu Architects: Clopen shelf

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Torafu Architects: Furin-Saisai

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Torafu Architects: Furin-Saisai

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Torafu Architects: Furin-Saisai

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Torafu Architects: Furin-Saisai

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

Rob joined It’s Nice That as Online Editor in July 2011 before becoming Editor-in-Chief and working across all editorial projects including itsnicethat.com, Printed Pages, Here and Nicer Tuesdays. Rob left It’s Nice That in June 2015.

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