Japanese furniture manufacturer Tendo Mokko was one of the first companies in Japan to adopt the technology of mold plywood. This chair was designed as part of Tendo Mokko’s 80th anniversary project. The design was inspired by the configuration of the solid wood legs sandwiched between multiple mold plywood parts, which is also the origin of the name of this chair “SAND”. Based on a backless type that can sat on from either the front or the back, this product can be transformed into an armchair with a backrest, a bench connected to a side table, and so on, by combining multiple parts. 

Innovation:
The designer has always been interested in the shapes created by the combination of multiple parts. This product is the result of the designer’s interest combined with his respect for the history of a manufacturer that specializes in molded plywood. This simple structure of solid wood sandwiched between molded plywood and the characteristic that the parts can be connected and configured in a variety of combinations makes this product innovative enough to be used not only for residential purposes, but also in a variety of other places, including public spaces. 

Creativity:
The originality of this product is more apparent when several parts are connected together. During the planning stages, there was some discussion about the risks of sitting next to each other due to the COVID-19 issue, but as a result, social issues expanded the product’s possibilities, including the option of incorporating a side table. 

Functionality:
First and foremost it is functional in that it can be adapted to various situations through the combination of its parts. In addition, the backless chair in particular can be sat on from either the front or the back, and this character, which is somewhere between a chair and a bench, increases the flexibility of where the product can be installed. The detailed dimensions of the seat, arms, and other parts of the chair were tested on a variety of body types, and more universal values were considered.

Sustainability:
When considering furniture made of molded plywood, there were possibilities of configuring the entire piece from a single part with a large area or pursuing complex cubic curves. However, the designer dared to combine simple parts to form the whole in this product, and exploring an efficient and rational design. The simple structure of this product maximize the potential of the furniture type, while at the same time increasing the economy and sustainability of production.