Bronze Furniture Design · 2025
Tachi Sideboard
by Yilmaz Dogan
- A' Design Award 2025 Bronze Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2025
- CLIENT: QZENS Furniture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 12,456
- Verification code 6FE05F84CA · Verify this award
About Tachi Sideboard
Tachi is a contemporary sideboard inspired by the deep cuts of Japanese swords, embodying energy and modernism through intersecting lines. Its sculptural surface enhances visual depth with light and shadow, while brass-coated metal legs support the geometric form. Crafted from lacquered wood with Cnc cut precision, it features a custom sliding door mechanism that ensures seamless alignment. To maintain stability, an internal support system counterbalances structural forces, blending functionality with bold aesthetics.
The Tachi Sideboard represents a compelling investigation into the intersection of functional furniture design and sculptural spatial presence, where the fundamental utility of domestic storage cabinetry becomes the departure point for formal experimentation that elevates everyday objects into the realm of aesthetic contemplation and spatial art, engaging with design traditions that span from mid-century modernist explorations of pure geometric form through contemporary parametric design's computational capabilities and digital fabrication's precision manufacturing techniques. The work demonstrates remarkable technical facility in its execution, particularly evident in the seamless integration of complex geometric surface articulation across what necessarily remains a functional cabinet system with operational doors, drawers, and internal compartments, this achievement requiring sophisticated planning to align decorative and structural imperatives while maintaining the visual primacy of the fragmented crystalline patterning that defines the piece's aesthetic character, the high-gloss black lacquer finish applied with evident expertise to achieve mirror-like reflectivity without visible imperfection, and the precision-crafted metallic supports that provide both structural stability and chromatic counterpoint through their warm brass or bronze tones and angular geometry that echoes the surface vocabulary of the cabinet body itself. The compositional sophistication of the geometric tessellation particularly rewards close examination, as the apparently random fragmentation reveals careful orchestration of angular relationships, linear weights, and planar proportions that create visual rhythm and directional flow across the horizontal expanse, preventing monotony while maintaining coherent overall gestalt, this balance between variety and unity demonstrating mature design sensibility that understands both the immediate impact of bold formal gestures and the sustained interest generated by intricate detail that reveals itself progressively to attentive viewing. Thematically, the Tachi Sideboard invites contemplation of several productive tensions within contemporary design discourse: the relationship between surface and structure, where decorative patterning simultaneously articulates and conceals functional reality; the dialogue between digital precision and handcrafted warmth, embodied in the contrast between machine-perfect black facades and the tactile presence of metallic feet; the negotiation between furniture as transparent utility and furniture as autonomous aesthetic object commanding spatial attention and intellectual engagement; and the exploration of how geometric abstraction, a formal language developed primarily within fine art contexts, translates into applied design where functional constraints and domestic contexts necessarily shape aesthetic possibilities. The dramatic monochromatic palette, relieved only by strategic metallic accents, suggests confidence in form itself as primary expressive means, rejecting chromatic complexity in favor of tonal clarity that allows geometric relationships and spatial presence to achieve maximum legibility, while the high-gloss reflective finish introduces environmental responsiveness that prevents the black mass from reading as inert or static, instead creating a dynamic surface that captures and transforms ambient light, surrounding architectural elements, and human presence into constantly shifting visual phenomena. One might observe resonances with various design lineages: the geometric rigor recalls both constructivist spatial investigations and the reductive formal vocabularies of minimalist sculpture, the faceted surfaces evoke crystalline natural formations and geological structures that have long inspired decorative arts traditions, the integration of contrasting materials suggests Arts and Crafts movement principles of honest material expression adapted to contemporary industrial contexts, and the elevation of functional objects to aesthetic contemplation continues art furniture traditions pioneered by studio craft movements and perpetuated in contemporary gallery-collected design. The work also raises questions about contemporary luxury in design, where ostentation through precious materials gives way to sophistication through formal innovation, manufacturing excellence, and intellectual complexity, the Tachi Sideboard achieving presence and distinction through geometric boldness and surface refinement rather than material preciousness, suggesting democratized luxury accessible through design intelligence rather than exclusively through material value. How does this translation of crystalline geometry from natural phenomena and digital space into functional domestic furniture transform our relationship with everyday objects, inviting us to discover sculptural presence and visual complexity in utilitarian forms we typically overlook in favor of their mere serviceability?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Tachi is a contemporary sideboard inspired by the deep cuts of Japanese swords. The elegant and dynamic form of intersecting lines reflects energy, movement and modernism from every angle. Its sculptural surface creates a strong visual impact through the play of light and shadow. While the metal legs support the geometric integrity of the design, the deep cuts form a perfect harmony, creating a complex but not overwhelming pattern. Tachi is an object where power and nobility meet design.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Width: 240 cm, Height: 78 cm, Depth: 48 cm. With its functional interior space and elegant cut details, Tachi adds a touch of modern sophistication to any setting. The internal compartments are optimized for various storage needs. The integration of the body and legs ensures both aesthetics and durability.
- Tags
- Tachi, Sideboard, Japanese, Samurai, Sword, Elegant, Modern, Geometry, Brass, Art
- Production Technology
- Tachi is made of lacquered wood panels. The sharp lines, created using Cnc cutting, are processed to achieve a smooth surface. A special sliding door mechanism ensures that the doors align without overlapping. This system creates a gap at the junction with the body, requiring rear support for the legs. The metal legs are brass-coated, completing the aesthetic integrity of the structure.
- Design Challenge
- The biggest design challenge of Tachi was ensuring the functionality and aesthetics of the door mechanism. A special sliding door system allows the doors to align without overlapping. This mechanism creates a gap at the junction with the body, altering the support point of the legs. To balance the forward-shifting moment force, a specially engineered internal support structure was developed for static stability.
- Project Duration
- The project transitioned from concept to prototype in 2023. Designed and manufactured in Ankara. Its production process was completed with meticulous research and craftsmanship in 2024. The launch was carried out on international design platforms.
- Operation Flow
- Tachi creates a sophisticated focal point in a space. Its sharp surfaces refract light from different angles, creating a dynamic visual effect. With its opening doors and spacious interior, it seamlessly combines functionality with aesthetics. The metal legs serve as both structural supports and integral design elements.
- Research
- Tachi's design process was built on the fascinating research into the aesthetic and structural features of Japanese swords. The visual impact of deep cuts, mechanical stability, and material harmony was analysed and optimised to create a truly unique design object that merges history with modernity.
- Inspiration
- Tachi is a medieval Japanese sword and the precursor to the katana, used by samurai in battle for deep, powerful cuts. It also symbolized status and power. It also played a role in rituals and ceremonies, reflecting its owner's social standing. Tachi is a modern sideboard inspired by the cut marks of these swords, bringing both aesthetics and meaning to spaces.
- Image Credits
- A. Murat ARIK
Erinç ULUSOY
Giray AYDOS
Colors of Tachi Sideboard
Get Tachi Sideboard
Grand Interview about Tachi Sideboard
The sliding door system of the Tachi Sideboard required a highly engineered internal track and support frame to enable a completely flush, silent glide. Unlike typical sliding doors, ours had to maintain the integrity of the geometric facade. We developed a recessed rail system integrated directly into the carcass, reinforced with hidden aluminum channels for durability. This concealed infrastructure supports the door weight evenly, preventing torsion while preserving the clean, sculptural silhouette. It was essential to achieve effortless movement without disrupting the visual harmony of the piece.
The name "Tachi" itself is drawn from a traditional Japanese long sword, known for its precision and ceremonial significance. I was captivated by the idea of transforming a martial object into a meditative surface. The intersecting cuts mimic the cutting traces of traditional tachi swords, while their rhythm suggests controlled movement and latent energy. By translating this symbolism into a functional sideboard, I aimed to explore how ancient strength and discipline can inform contemporary design with both beauty and restraint.
To preserve the sharp geometry without compromising structural stability, we conducted extensive trials using different CNC tooling speeds and bit types. Each panel was cut from MDF to prevent chipping and maintain edge clarity. We then applied multiple layers of primer and sanding before final lacquering, allowing the geometry to remain crisp. Functional durability was ensured through internal ribbing behind the front panel, preventing warping while maintaining a minimal profile. Our production team in Ankara played a vital role in achieving consistency across every unit.
The brass-coated legs contrast with the sideboard's mass, elevating the piece both literally and visually. The inclined metal legs also follow the cutting lines, completing the integrity of the overall form. The brass coating was applied electrostatically to ensure that the warm tone is preserved over time. The result is a slender, elegant base that provides full support, reflecting the balance of delicacy and strength inherent in samurai tradition.
While the exterior of the Tachi Sideboard communicates bold artistry, the interior had to serve the daily needs of the user with clarity and efficiency. We treated the body of the cabinet as a double envelope: the inner structure follows a modular logic, offering generous and customizable storage options, while the outer layer, sculpted like armor, delivers the expressive impact. The clean interior layout features soft-close systems and adjustable shelving to adapt to varied usage scenarios. This contrast between calm utility inside and sculptural drama outside reflects the dual nature of the samurai spirit, restraint paired with power.
The entire development of Tachi was about walking a fine line between reverence and reinterpretation. We immersed ourselves in the formal language of Japanese swordsmithing, precision, balance, and ritual, and translated that ethos into geometry and material. At the same time, we employed cutting-edge production techniques and contemporary finishes to root the piece in the present. The result is not a reproduction of tradition, but a respectful evolution of it, imbued with cultural memory and modern intent.
The surface was conceived as a dynamic topography, designed to interact constantly with light and movement. We experimented with the geometry in a digital environment first, running simulations with directional lighting to study how shadows would behave at different times of day. The lines aren’t random; their position and depth are choreographed to echo the tension and release found in sword strokes. The result is a facade that invites exploration and rewards close observation.
The collaboration was iterative and deeply integrated. After the initial concept sketches, we worked closely with our production team in Ankara to test the feasibility of the facade geometry. They provided valuable feedback on material behavior, lacquering challenges, and cutting precision. In return, we adjusted some angles and layering to improve manufacturability without sacrificing design intent. This mutual respect between design and making elevated the project, each decision was informed by both aesthetic goals and technical knowledge.
Tachi speaks to a growing desire for meaning-driven design in the luxury sector. I believe the future lies in pieces that not only function but narrate, objects that hold cultural depth while serving contemporary needs. Tachi demonstrates how ancient symbolism can inform new typologies without becoming nostalgic or decorative.
Achieving the perfect lacquer finish on Tachi's faceted surface was a true test of craftsmanship. Each CNC-milled panel underwent a labour-intensive, multi-stage finishing process. First, multiple coats of high-build primer were applied, each followed by meticulous hand-sanding to preserve the edge definition of the cuts. Then, we applied layers of tinted lacquer using a fine spray, ensuring even coverage without any pooling in the valleys of the relief. The greatest challenge was to maintain consistency across the planes and ensure that the light reflected evenly despite the panel’s sculptural complexity. The end result is a deep, luminous surface that transforms the geometry into an experience of light, tactility and depth.