Bronze Furniture · 2022

Mushroom Shelf

by Shota Urasaki

Bronze A' Design Award 2022 in Furniture
Estimated Number of Design Views: 11,697
Verification code 1DB93DD2C8 · Verify this award

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release

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About Mushroom Shelf

Mushroom is a shelf designed for the free display of everyday objects. Each mushroom form is hand-carved one by one from Okinawan camphorwood and embedded with a magnet. The mushrooms are attached to a thin steel plate that rises from the floor, so each form can be positioned freely. Large mushrooms hold various items, while small mushrooms hold postcards or memos. The base combines bent steel plates with plywood. The design was inspired by mushrooms growing on a wooden sign, and its appearance changes with each user.

About the Bronze A' Design Award

Mushroom Shelf is a Bronze A' Design Award winner, a highly prestigious recognition granted to outstanding designs distinguished by creativity, ingenuity, and astuteness. Bronze winners are amply skillful and strikingly creative artifacts that authenticate the vast experience, imagination, and resourcefulness of their designers. Mushroom Shelf is expected to be a highly regarded, admired, and cherished object that is notably professional and innovative. This Bronze A' Design Award-winning design incorporates best practices in art, science, design, and technology, and is excellent for its attention to detail. Mushroom Shelf splendidly satisfies needs, touches desires, charms feelings, and appeals to curiosity.

Press Kit

Unique Properties: The shelf of camphor tree, sculpted to look like a mushroom, is embedded with magnets.
Therefore, they can be placed freely.
The mushrooms are attached to a thin steel plate that rises up from the floor.
The large mushrooms can be used to place various items, while the small mushrooms can be used to hold postcards or memos.
Dimensions & Packaging: Width 910mm x Depth 450mm x Height 1500mm
Tags: Okinawa, Japan, Nature, Shelf, Furniture
Production Technology: The mushrooms are carefully hand-carved one by one from Okinawan camphorwood.
Thin steel plates were then bent and combined with plywood to create the base to which the mushrooms are attached.
Design Challenge: I had a hard time conveying the wonder of nature in a sensory way. Structure and details were important, but I had to make sure that what I felt was expressed properly as I worked toward completion.
Research: I visited several islands in Okinawa for this project. I observed and repeatedly sketched the nature there. Then, while modeling in 3D, I made a number of mock-ups and examined them. At the same time, I also considered what materials would be appropriate.
Inspiration: I usually create ideas from the nature around me.
This was inspired by the sight of mushrooms growing out of a wooden sign in my neighborhood.
I felt the vitality and freedom of the mushrooms that grow from artifacts.
It was very interesting.
Currently, there are various ways of life and values.
This shelf changes its appearance depending on the user.
Project Duration: The project started in June 2020 in Okinawa and finished in January 2021 in Okinawa.
Image Credits: [Image #1: Shota Urasaki, Mushroom, 2021. ][ Image #2: Shota Urasaki, Mushroom, 2021. ][ Image #3: Shota Urasaki, Mushroom, 2021. ][ Image #4: Shota Urasaki, Mushroom, 2021. ][ Image #5: Shota Urasaki, Mushroom, 2021.]