ishinomaki stool
Designer: Keiji Ashizawa
The ISHINOMAKI STOOL is a compact, lightweight, and multi-functional wooden stool designed with practical everyday use in mind. Originally created for use in temporary housing, this stool blends simplicity, utility, and thoughtful design into one versatile piece.
Product specification
Materials: Reclaimed teakwood with natural aged surfaces
Dimensions: 370 (W) x 400 (D) x 420 (H) mm
Weight: 5.3 kg
ISHINOMAKI LABORATORY X CUSHCUSH
Back in 2011, Ishinomaki Laboratory started as a small community workshop in Japan — a way to help people rebuild after the Great East Japan Earthquake. They started by holding DIY workshops for local residents and helping restore— rebuilding not just structures, but hope and a sense of community. From the beginning, Ishinomaki Laboratory believed that “doing it yourself” doesn’t mean doing it alone. Making a community strong is just as vital as making strong furniture. Made in Local initiative began with a simple idea — to bring Ishinomaki Laboratory’s designs and philosophy into new contexts through collaboration with local makers, materials, and markets. One of the selected partner is CushCush in Bali Indonesia. Staying true to the concept of ‘Made in Local’, the Ishinomaki Laboratory furniture is crafted by CushCush, using locally sourced reclaimed Teakwood from old Javanese ‘Joglo’ and other wooden houses.
About the Designer
Keiji Ashizawa
Keiji Ashizawa (b. 1973) lives and works in Tokyo, Japan. After graduating from Yokohama University School of Architecture in 1995, Ashizawa spent the first ten years of his career working as both an architect and steel fabricator. The unique skills and experience gained throughout these early years, including a valued understanding of metals, continue to influence his approach to design.
Keiji Ashizawa presents work of ‘honest’ design – simple yet refined, thoughtful and of a light manner – derived naturally through the process of attempting to maximise the potential of each material and its function. He excels in applying these ideas to projects of various scale, from furniture and lighting design to architecture and exhibition design.
His furniture and lighting have been exhibited internationally since 2001.
In 2011, Ashizawa was awarded a ‘Special Award’ by the Japan Institute of Design for his principal participation in the inception of Ishinomaki Laboratory – a DIY furniture workshop established in Ishinomaki city, Japan, after it was devastated by the tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake.