Silver Furniture Design · 2026
Ebisu Residential Writing Desk
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Olho Moveis Autorais
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 20,720
- Verification code 65E953DE02 · Verify this award
About Ebisu Residential Writing Desk
Ebisu is a residential writing desk designed to integrate work into domestic environments. The restrained proportions and balanced geometry allow the desk to engage with the living space rather than dominate it. A leather writing surface is flush mounted into the top, forming a continuous work plane. The structure is made of CNC machined MDF clad in natural pau ferro veneer and finished with matte acrylic varnish. Aged brass is used on edges, internal drawer dividers and a custom power box. Wiring is concealed through the legs to preserve formal clarity.
The Ebisu Residential Writing Desk by Isabelle De Mari exemplifies a distinguished lineage of furniture design that synthesizes the clean geometries of mid-century modernism with the material reverence characteristic of contemporary artisanal practice, positioning itself within a tradition that honors both functional excellence and aesthetic contemplation. The work demonstrates sophisticated understanding of proportion and visual weight, its substantial cylindrical legs providing grounded stability while their rounded forms introduce an organic softness that prevents the piece from reading as merely architectural or severe. The designer appears to engage thoughtfully with material contrast as a primary compositional strategy, deploying the luminous warmth of figured walnut against the subtle gleam of brushed brass, creating a dialogue between natural and refined industrial elements that speaks to contemporary sensibilities around authenticity and craft. The apparent leather writing surface introduces yet another textural dimension, its warm cognac tone bridging the metallic coolness of the apron band with the deeper chocolate of the timber, while simultaneously suggesting historical precedents in traditional desk design where leather provided both practical writing surface and luxurious tactility. Technical accomplishment reveals itself in the seamless integration of these diverse materials, the precision of the joinery where metal meets wood, and the continuity of grain pattern across the substantial leg columns suggesting either exceptional veneering skill or the selection of premium solid timber. The work evokes traditions of the writing desk as a site of intellectual labor and personal reflection, a furniture type that throughout history has signified the value placed upon correspondence, scholarship, and private contemplation within domestic space. One might consider how this contemporary interpretation balances the desk's historical associations with focused productivity against current understandings of the home as a space of multivalent activity, inviting viewers to reflect upon their own relationships with objects of daily use that aspire to transcend mere utility.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Ebisu is a residential writing desk conceived as a natural extension of the living environment. Its restrained proportions and balanced geometry allow it to engage with space rather than dominate it. A leather writing surface is structurally integrated into the top, forming a continuous and quiet work plane. Brass appears with precision in edges, internal dividers and a custom power box, while concealed wiring preserves formal clarity. Ebisu supports productivity without disrupting domestic harmony.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Dimensions: 1800 mm x 700 mm x 760 mm
Weight: 85 kg
Structure: MDF core clad in natural pau ferro veneer
Finish: Matte acrylic varnish
Top: Integrated leather writing surface
Details: Aged brass cladding and internal brass dividers
Electrical: 2 sockets 127V 10A and 1 USB C port
Wiring: Concealed routing through legs
Assembly: Non disassemblable structure - Tags
- Residential desk, Writing desk, Contemporary furniture, Minimalist design, Brass details, Leather surface, Integrated power, Home workspace, Architectural furniture
- Production Technology
- Ebisu is fabricated using CNC machined MDF as structural core, clad in natural pau ferro veneer and finished with matte acrylic varnish. The legs are constructed through laminated MDF layers, precision shaped and veneered. The leather writing surface is integrated and flush mounted into the top. Brass sheets are cut, formed and aged for structural cladding and internal dividers. A custom power box is machined in brass, with concealed wiring routed through the legs.
- Design Challenge
- The primary challenge was combining diverse materials such as brass, leather and natural veneer while preserving a cohesive, balanced and minimalist identity. Achieving visual lightness without compromising structural integrity required strict proportion control. The height of the desk top structural box was reduced to the minimum possible dimension while maintaining rigidity and functionality. Integrated elements were incorporated discreetly to preserve spatial harmony.
- Project Duration
- The project started in July 2025 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and was completed in October 2025. It was officially launched in November 2025 as part of the Tokyo Collection, a broader furniture series inspired by Japanese culture and craftsmanship.
- Operation Flow
- Ebisu operates as a seamless extension of the living space rather than a conventional work station. The integrated leather writing surface is structurally embedded into the top, eliminating the need for external accessories. Drawers with internal brass dividers organize materials with clarity and precision. A minimalist power box, crafted as part of the design language, allows connectivity without visual disruption. The desk performs by integrating productivity into the home while preserving spatial harmony.
- Research
- The project explored how work functions can be integrated into residential space without disrupting domestic comfort. Spatial studies and material testing guided proportion and structure. User observation informed storage and surface organization. Prototypes evaluated concealed technical solutions. The outcome improves usability and spatial coherence, proposing a more natural relationship between productivity and living environments.
- Inspiration
- Ebisu reflects the transformation of contemporary living, where work has entered the intimate space of the home. Instead of importing corporate codes into domestic environments, the project explores how productivity can integrate into atmosphere rather than disrupt it. Inspired by Japanese structural restraint, where function and serenity coexist, the desk incorporates technology discreetly. Ebisu does not impose presence; it sustains continuity within the living space.