The Structure, an iconic chair in DKTN and sustainable wood

Square, minimalist and iconic, The Structure chair is a design that will leave an indelible mark thanks to its avant-garde yet timeless forms. Created by Japanese designer Nami Tatsuya for handcrafted furniture company Composition and Moment, this piece is ready to grace the most sophisticated spaces with a touch of pure sustainability. It reuses pieces of wood that would otherwise be discarded, sparing the need to cut down new trees.

“Some of the wood we use comes from forests nourished by the abundant water in the city of Hida in Gifu, Japan. Five per cent of the trees felled in the mountains here are used for furniture and construction materials, while the remaining ninety-five per cent are used for pulp and chips,” explains Tatsuya.

Some of this last percentage is made up of pieces of wood so small that they cannot be used by large manufacturing industries. “Because of their small diameter and limited variety, they are difficult to use as wood for mass-produced items that require a logistically stable supply of material. Therefore, in order to obtain the larger trees suitable for furniture and building materials, the smaller surrounding trees must also be felled,” he continues.

To avoid cutting down new trees, these tiny pieces of wood are used to produce The Structure chairs. “The fusion of minimalist form and small wood as a material is intended to evoke and embody the Hida-Furukawa Forest through a medium, and to bring a new connection to the idea of a relationship between forests and people,” says Tatsuya.

The designer, who has developed several models with different seat materials, has now included DKTN Stonika Arga in one of them. Inspired by the quartzite of the Taj Mahal, this colour recreates the luxury of natural stone on a smooth cream background, accentuated by subtle light brown and gold veins that enhance its dramatic appearance. This hyper-realistic graphic, with its dazzling sheen, adds depth and richness to the material, and shares a common characteristic with the small pieces of wood Tatsuya used in The Structure – both make the most of the available raw materials.

As a result, this stone is the only carbon neutral option throughout its life cycle. Not only does it incorporate recycled materials and water and use renewable energy in its production, but Cosentino also takes responsibility for offsetting 100% of its minimal CO2 emissions.

In addition, DKTN has proven to be highly resilient over time, withstanding scratches, abrasion, stains, extreme cold and even fire without showing any signs of damage. This is backed up by a 25-year warranty, which contributes to a remarkably low replacement rate, to the benefit of the environment.

“This model will redefine the concept of a chair as an element that makes the most of the space and materials. By adopting different resource and circulation approaches, we aim to create an inseparable relationship between forests and people through furniture,” concludes Tatsuya.