Postalco turns storage boxes into hackable furniture for Karimoku exhibition

Postalco Design Studio rethought the concept of storage in Stakko Chunks and Blocks, an exhibition at the Karimoku Research Centre in Tokyo.

The show centres around a hardwood box designed by Postalco's Mike Abelson and produced by Karimoku Furniture, which has been customised to create different kinds of furniture-storage hybrids.

The project suggests how storage could become more visible in the home, and how it could be adapted and customised over its owner's lifetime.

"Our relationship with our things is a bit broken right now," Abelson told Dezeen.

"We all have a drawer or closet we don't want to look in. It's full of stuff you can't get rid of because you might need it – that's a stress," said the Tokyo-based designer.

"We wanted to rethink storage as the place where your relationship with those things takes place, so we can become a bit more aware of what we buy and keep."

In line with this mindset, Abelson and his Postalco co-founder and partner, Yuri Abelson, explored how storage can be the core component for an entire furniture collection.

Stakko Chunks and Blocks presents the result of these experiments through six scenographies, each using the box in different ways.

A living room scene features benches with underseat storage, while a workspace scene sees space integrated into the sides of a deep desk.

One scene shows what's possible when up to five boxes are stacked, while a more dynamic install presents upturned boxes that appear to have emptied their contents.

The largest collection of boxes combines illuminated display shelves, hidden storage and plants, while the final scene is home to a record player and vinyl collection.

"We tried to hit this sweet spot where the box could be as many different things as possible," said Abelson.

"If you hit exactly a certain height, one block is the height of a seat, two blocks is the height of a table and three blocks is the height of a working surface," he added.

The craft of the Stakko box was key. Made from Japanese hardwood, it features dovetail and mortise joints that increase its strength and durability, ensuring it can withstand long-term use and adaptability.

Karimoku is set to launch the box as a product later this year, with customers encouraged to customise the boxes into their own ensembles.

"People usually buy new furniture when they move house or enter a new life stage," said Abelson. "We want this furniture to be something you carry through different stages of your life, across different locations."

"The solid wood means it lasts longer and the scratches become part of the patina."

Stakko Chunks and Blocks is part of Survey Two: Timeless Change, the second set of exhibitions to take place at the Keiji Ashizawa-designed Karimoku Research Centre since its opening earlier this year.

Postalco chose to work with artist Makoto Kobayashi, founder of Out of Museum, on the exhibition design. The duo wanted a display that emulated the chaos of life, rather than something that looked like a showroom.

Kobayashi obliged, bringing in "two truckloads of stuff" to fill their boxes.

"He has a crazy, beautiful aesthetic that we love," said Abelson. "Life is not perfect; we wanted to show that."

The display also features Yuri Abelson's graphics, which suggest more ways of customising the boxes.

The logo features the "chunk" referenced in the show title, a carved wooden offcut that can be used for handles or feet.

The photography is by Masaaki Inoue/Bouillon.

Stakko Chunks and Blocks is on show at Karimoku Research Centre from April 26 to August 8. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.

The post Postalco turns storage boxes into hackable furniture for Karimoku exhibition appeared first on Dezeen.