SǔnMǎo (Chinese Joints; Mortise and tenon) is a Chinese traditional way for connecting woods. This technique can be applied to big structures, like buildings and bridges, but also to small object like furniture and windows. Ancient Chinese craftsmen used advanced wood joints to complete the three-dimensional structures. Nowadays the hardwood materials gradually faded. In which direction will SǔnMǎo-based design go?2018, 6th Year, SǔnMǎo, 19 designers…

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Paris

sǔnmǎo

Materials: Rose wood Dimension: 1400-2600 x 400 x 1000 mm (VAR DIMS)The rationality of traditional rosewood furniture material has become a sensitive issue. It is also the starting point of my design. Without thinking about whether it is right or wrong, let’s solve the issue from the maximum utilization of materials. If factories make the maximum utilization of those rare hardwoods come from torrid zone, it might help reduce logging. Although it is a drop in the bucket, it is also an action out of reason.

Shuttle table

Materials:Ceramic Dimension:180 x 180 x 130 mmInspired by the characteristics of hot expansion and cold contraction of wood tenon structure,the work hui made use of the high shrinkage and irreversibility of ceramics to make the ceramics nested together.The finished product now is an exploration.It does not attempt to define a functional form.The aim is to explore the coordination of its physical form and production process.It is a mathematical game,and a challenge to the limits of the material itself.The uncertainty and openness of hui is designed to arouse users'speculation on the object itself and their metaphysical exploration beyond the function of the object. &nbsp;

Materials: Teakwood&nbsp; Dimension: 1200 x 200 x 1300mm,1000 x 150 x 1000mm,800 x 120x 700mmSunMao-Chinese Joints, as a culture, is related both to tradition and contemporary design language of China. As a Chinese principle of creation, it can be expressed as partial, small structural nodes, or a series of complicated and exquisite structural combinations.We hope to integrate the construction rules of SunMao into this work, focusing on how to use the structural features of SunMao itself to realize a large span of space in the way of small materials and large structure, and solve the problem of structural support. We hope that this is not just an independent supporting component, but a spatial structure system that can be expanded and changed on this basis, and its meaning and form can be redefined continuously.

Gong(Arch)

Materials: Cast glass, cast copper Dimension: 110 x 120 x 430mm,280 x 90 x 110mm,230 x 160 x 170mmIn spired by our research on wax-losing casting, the material conversion between wood, sculpture clay, plaster, wax, and glass fiber reinforced plastics has a very critical link structure, that is, SunMao. This Chinese Joints is the connection point between materials, but it is hidden in the process and disappears in the result. Therefore, we visualized the SunMao, which hidden in the lost wax casting, through ice and bananas, so as to explore the relationship between the material and the craft. And the pro nun ciation of banana is the same as "intersection" in Chinese, which is also the meaning of SunMao - Chinese Joints. At last, one question: is SunMao a method or a form of structure? &nbsp;

 Vase of SunMao-Chinese Joints

Materials: Rosewood Dimension: 1000 x 1300 x 1480 mmThe inspiration of "Fu Sheng" Installation Art II comes from Chinese landscape culture. The work, taking the material of wood to form "mountains" , applying the structure of SunMao-Chinese Joints and ice-crack form, indicates the fission and rebirth of life. Thewhole work is composed of two parts: the upper part can be used as the base of tea table,and the lower part can be used as the flower table for potted plant, integrated presenting the mountain and stone Iandscape of Chinese garden.

"Fu Sheng" Installation Art II

Materials: Metal, wood, cloth leather Dimension: 420 x 470 x 1050mm-high stoo,400 x 400 x 470mm-stool benchWe applied traditional "bamboo tube joint" to metal, using new materials and digital processing technology. We made the parts of this work removable and through which the work can be packed in a relative flat way. With the help of tenon structure, users can easilyremove and pack it. Metal combined with soft materials makes this work looks more elegant.It conveys a sense of fantastic through its public image, processing, and packaging.

Forest Elf Bamboo Carving Stool with Metal

Materials:bambooDimension:220 x 120 x 150 mmThrough learning and deconstructing the techniques of making traditional bamboo tube furniture,with the material of bamboo,we try to interpret the concept of tenon joints in woodwork.So,we made a set of bowls and chopsticks.When chopsticks are pulled out,the cover could be used as chopsticks rest or saucer.

Bamboo Mortise(Bowl Chopsticks)

Material:Plywood, Sponge, Felt cloth Dimensions:Round stool:450 x 450x 550 mm-Square side table,390 x 390x 500 mm-Round stool, 360x 360 x 770mm-Bar stool, 550x 550 x 425 mm-Round side tableThis series of furniture resemble pieces of mushrooms, from which the Chinese name (Mogu) derives. This design is inspired by the structure of the mortise and tenon joint. The mortise and tenon joints are applied in every part and on the whole of the furniture. The joint of the furniture in this way is convenient for packing and dissembling.&nbsp; The figure of the frame resembles the vault of the church, combining straight lines and curves, graceful with strength. And it is built with plywood cut by numerical control milling machines, which meets the requirement of both mass production and accuracy. The traditional structure of mortise and tenon joint is thus remolded with modern molding craft. On the one hand, the use of sponge and cloth adds comfort to the furniture, and on the other hand, the soft material stabilizes the hard frame with its tenacity.

Mogu Series

Materials:Oiled cedar wood and lava stone Dimension:1500x480x440 mmWood and stone combined in one object.A precisely machined lava slab wedged into a solid beam.Inspired by the works of Chinese artist Fu Zhongwang.I tried to see the joint not from&nbsp;a technical but from a sculptural perspective.With focus on the contrast of hard and soft&nbsp;materials as well as structure and proportion.I would say that this work is a lot about balance.&nbsp;much like the philosophy of yin and yang.The lava stone comes from Clermont-Ferrand.&nbsp;France and the cedar wood from&nbsp;Switzerland.Both materials are ascribed special energies.

Beam Bench

DOoough ball

Materials:PaperDimension:350 x 350 x 350 mmIt is an extendable and shapeable unit with a fresh and edgy outlook.Different curves and length are formed by connecting puzzles in different combination with the "SunMao-Chinese Joints"structure.Because it can be molded in different forms and shape,so,with your creativity and different needs,it acts like a dough shell that can cover your old lighting,create private space,or even decorate your wall...etcWhen making it a light shade,it can fit in most of the floor lighting in the market.(such as NYMANE and NYFORS in IKEA)So,to refresh your space,you don't need to throw away your old floor lighting that causes pollution,DOoough can turn it becomes a stylish and energetic new product easily.Every piece of dough shell design is unique because continuous graphic is formed by linking up the puzzles.Graphic will be varied by the way you link them up.Moreover,the light position will create different outlook for DOoough shell:When the light source is outside the DOoough shell,energetic and lively outlook is made by the distinctive and refreshing graphic pattern;When the light source is inside the DOoough shell,graceful and exquisite outlook Is made by the shadow of the overlapping trapezoidal-shaped pins and tails,refreshing color will be replaced by soft and warm lighting.DOoough shell is made by eco-friendly paper and ink,so,it's safe for animal and kids.

DOoough shell

Materials:Acrylic,metal,LED lights&nbsp; Dimension:400 x 400 x 400 mmConcept of the lamp "Unlock"comes from Chinese traditional "Luban lock",which is invented by Luban who was said to be the most intelligent carpenter in ancient China.All its parts are connected through joints structure.It requires wisdom for both assembly and disassembly.The joy of "Unlock"exist not just in appreciating the beauty consisted of light, shadow,and the lamp body,but also in the process of thinking and assembling parts into lamp.

Unlock

Materials:Wood,metal,lacquer Dimension:450 x 400 x 400 mmMultifunction stool that serves as a tea ceremony set,a side table and a storage unit.This piece is inspired by a 3 pieces joint called xie ding sun (楔钉榫)This joint is made of 2 imbricated pieces with a key holding them together.The center axis of the stool that has a push pull system work as the key between the base and the interchangeable top.

Evolve stool

Materials:Resin,Rubber,Polyester thread Dimension:90 x 100 x 66 mm (Necklace length:410mm)I started to play a kind of toy called "Luban lock"since I was very young.It contains a classic Chinese traditional wood structure making technique.I am captivated by this kind of structure. which affect and restrict each other through each single part,without any other adhesives or nails. I applied this structure,which has always been used in architecture and furniture,to jewelry. transfored the decorative meaning of jewelry into games and structures,and even extended more and more complex structures.

Lockey

Materials:Painted fir and walnut wood Dimension:450x600x800 mm The log chairs combine wood in two different stages of processing.The log stands at the very beginning and the planed plank at the end of the manufacturing process.Inspired by the works of Chinese artist Fu Zhongwang.I tried to reduce complexity and create a sculptural object rather than a technical one.I am interested in the tension that occurs when two unequal parts are jointed.The result are two one-off pieces using different traditional mortise and tenon wood joints.It's been a real joy to work with such pieces of solid wood.Every step from the raw trunk to the oiled plank was full of surprises.

Log Chair

Materials:Copper Dimension:1230 x 480 x 498 mmThe design concept derives from principle recoded in an ancient Chinese work Tao Te Ching: After one comes two,after two comes three,after three comes all things.We made a tea table.Applying numerical algorithms and "plug tenon"concept,we used metal tubes to form the structure that can spreads boundlessly.

X cube

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Founded by PINWU Design Studio in 2015, Róng Design Library is the first library in China focusing on traditional handcrafts and materials and a non-profit organization.
The core mission is to preserve the knowledge of Chinese traditional crafts and related materials. Furthermore, it offers a platform to deconstruct crafts, analyze materials and creating contemporary designs.

róng design library

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róng design exhibit - sǔnmǎo

Zhengguang Hou

Fang Jingfeng & Dong Mi

Wang Junlei & Zhang Yipin

Luo Daishi & Tan Zhipeng

Wan Lin & Yuan Jinhua

Yu-fen Lo

Cheng Tsung Feng

Liang Chen & Yao Yihuan

Sebastian Marbacher

Wong Ka Wai, Mike

Wong Ka Wai, Mike

Yuan Yuan

Alexandre Chary

Zhang Xiaochuan

Sebastian Marbacher

Derek Chen