Border is a minimalist collection of polycarbonate furniture designed by Tokyo-based designer Shomu Taki in collaboration with Rikiya Toyoshima. An innovative use of surplus hollow polycarbonate materials has emerged from a joiner workshop in Okayama Prefecture. Traditionally employed in the construction of doors and windows, hollow polycarbonate is noted for its clear transparency, effective heat insulation, and robust durability, making it a viable alternative to traditional glass. The workshop’s new approach addresses an operational challenge: the custom nature of their work often results in an excess of polycarbonate pieces in various sizes, leading to storage issues. To tackle this, the workshop has begun repurposing these surplus materials.
By processing them into uniformly thin boards, not only has valuable storage space been reclaimed, but a new design opportunity has been seized. The creative process involved in this transformation is notable. The design capitalizes on the material’s innate characteristics, particularly its continuous lines. This is achieved by embedding caulking material, typically used in glass installation, into the grooves at either end of the polycarbonate boards, thereby creating a unique joint. This method not only utilizes the inherent qualities of the material but also lends a distinctive aesthetic to the final product. The result of this inventive process is a series of interior pieces that stand out due to their unusual origin and composition. The use of what is essentially a by-product material, seldom seen in everyday life, grants these pieces an unconventional and intriguing presence.
