From small mundane details to the vastness of nature, a wide range of elements become sources of inspiration for South Korea-based architecture and design studio Sukchulmok. Park Hyunhee, its lead designer, is particularly fascinated by materials such as stone, iron and wood and their distinct characteristic spectrums. The exploration of these qualities culminates in a series of furniture interventions by the studio, all probing not just the inherent traits of the materials but also the relationship between them.
"The Sukchulmok furniture series emphasises the inherent characteristics of stone, iron and wood, with the goal of establishing iconic forms. A significant focus lies in exploring relationships where two or three elements are combined or where distinct objects are unified into a single form. This approach allows me to embed the motifs of my inspiration into the design, applying specific rules to create a sense of elegance and refinement in the shapes," Hyunhee tells STIR.
Headquartered in Seoul, Sukchulmok specialises in architecture, interiors and design projects that spotlight a play of materiality. The studio's oeuvre utilises techniques such as stone stacking, iron welding and wood carving to contrive impactful and inviting tactility. Expanding its body of work, the studio has set in motion a series of interventions in furniture design, some inspired by landscape lighting, others by cultural elements. The MOK-JIGE series and the Chul-02 Cone Stool are some recent additions to Sukchulmok's furniture repository.
The ongoing MOK-JIGE series began with Mok-03 Jige, a chair design inspired by the traditional Korean carrying tool for transporting goods, the jige, widely used in Korea until the 1980s. However, for many children, it also served as a window to the world as they sat atop their father's jige loaded with firewood. The wooden furniture features a structure made from white oak dowels and a bundle of branches placed on top. The joints of the structure incorporate metal inserts for the durability of the inclined design. The horizontal element, woven from branches, evokes a jige carrying consumable items; it may be replaced with other materials, owing to a flexible and adaptable design.
Mok-04 Rice Straw and Jige expands the series by modularising the legs used in Mok-03 Jige. Adding a modern flair to the Jige series, the cross (+)-shaped proportions of the chair are balanced by placing horizontal consumables on a vertical structure. Rice straw, which serves as insulation in winter, is replaced with new byproducts as the seasons change. Mok-04 is designed based on the ratio of multiples of three; it consists of 300 mm-tall legs, a 600 mm horn structure, and 1,200 mm horizontal consumables. "By employing repeated proportions and mathematical multiples, I create visual effects that either erase a sense of perspective from certain viewpoints or achieve optical illusions. This method delivers a refined sense of proportion while crafting symbolic and aesthetically pleasing forms," the furniture designer notes.
The Chul-02 Cone Stool, another one of Sukchulmok's recent product designs inspired by the peg used in landscape lighting, features three conical shapes that lean on each other. The stool design can be used by adjusting its joints according to the environment; it can be made upright by inserting it into the ground or by adjusting the angle to place it on hard surfaces. "I delved deeply into technical and structural issues and sought extensive advice from experts during the process," Hyunhee relays in a conversation with STIR. "The primary focus of my work is not achieving perfection in functional furniture. Instead, I prioritise whether the concept and my philosophy are effectively conveyed through the design," the designer explains.
Through these singular furniture prototypes, Sukchulmok harmoniously interweaves traditional and mundane elements with contemporary design, while also, in the case of the MOK-JIGE series, reflecting the practical adaptability to seasonal changes. The ongoing series emphasises the inherent characteristics of stone, iron and wood through different interpretations, while also establishing symbolic forms—both mundane and nostalgic.
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