Desk
Manufactured by Shiro Kuramata
Japan, 1950s
Wood

Measurements
180 x 85 x 72h cm
70,9 x 33,5 x 28,4h in

Provenance
Private Collection

Details
The design of this piece was made specifically for the Tsukuba Center Building and the Tsukuba Daiichi Hotel. It is entirely custom-made.

Biography
Shiro Kuramata (1934-1991) was a visionary Japanese designer known for his unconventional and often poetic approach to furniture and interiors. Educated at the Kuwasawa Design School in Tokyo, he became prominent in the 1970s and '80s for his use of industrial materials, such as metal mesh, glass, and acrylic, which he used to create ethereal, minimalist pieces that defied conventional furniture forms. A key figure in the Memphis Group, founded by Ettore Sottsass, Kuramata embraced postmodern design principles, often challenging traditional forms and functions. His designs, such as the Miss Blanche Chair—made of transparent acrylic embedded with artificial roses—and the How High the Moon armchair, remain celebrated for their blend of functionality and surrealism. His works are now part of prestigious collections, including those at the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.