# Paper-Thin Wooden Furniture Norm Architects and Karimoku Design a Four-Piece Furniture Collection By Amy Duong | Published 2018-08-22 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/norm-architects-and-karimoku References: [dezeen](https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/21/karimoku-norm-architects-wooden-furniture-danish-japanese/) & [karimoku](http://www.karimoku.com/) Norm Architects and Karimoku work in collaboration to design four pieces of wooden furniture for a newly renovated project in Kinuta. The Danish design studio and [Japanese furniture manufacturer](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/karimoku-research) draw reference from both of its heritage in its design pieces. The designs feature a sofa with wooden frames, a coffee table designed after a Japanese temple, a paper-thin dining table, and a [dining chair crafted from recyclable materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/castor-sofa). These pieces are specifically made to furnish a series of townhouses on the west side of Tokyo. The sofa is constructed from a type of cypress wood called hinoki, which is often used in Japan -- all of its joints are is display to reference traditional Japanese architecture designs as well as mid-century Danish furniture designs. The sofa's armrests extend around the seat to turn the backrest into a shelf as well. Japanese temples and shrines shape the frame of the coffee table and it is finished with a stone surface and wooden frame. The dining table explores dimensions so that it appears paper-thin from certain angles. Image Credit: Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen and Masaki Ogawa ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 75% | Activity: 60% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/furniture) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Wooden Furniture Design:** An opportunity to create innovative wooden furniture designs inspired by traditional Japanese and Danish influences. - **Sustainable Furniture Materials:** A chance to develop furniture using recyclable materials for a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach. - **Minimalist Furniture Design:** A trend towards creating furniture with clean, simple lines and a focus on functionality. ### Where This Applies - **Furniture Manufacturing:** A disruptive innovation opportunity in the furniture manufacturing industry to embrace traditional and minimalist designs. - **Interior Design:** An opportunity for interior designers to incorporate wooden furniture with clean lines and sustainable materials into their projects. - **Home Renovation:** A trend in home renovation industry towards incorporating eco-friendly and minimalist designs using wooden furniture. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Minimal Warm Furniture Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/karimoku-case.md) - [Architect-Designed Thoughtful Furniture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/norman-foster2.md) - [Wood-Centric Simple Furniture Series](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/collective-collection.md) - [Workshop-Backed Elevated Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nagare-collection.md) - [Braided Furniture Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/design-tradition.md) - [Cross-Cultural Furniture Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kensaku-oshiro.md) - [Reimagined Familiar Design Objects](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/karimoku-1.md) - [Minimal Collaborative Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ash-furniture.md) - [Machete-Cut Table Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kodai-iwamoto.md)