Ishinomaki stool, 34,5 x 37 cm, natural

The Ishinomaki stool is a minimalist seat crafted in the DIY spirit of the Japanese brand Ishinomaki Laboratory. It was originally developed in community furniture workshops held after the 2011 tsunami in Japan, where residents in temporary housing often relied on plastic beverage crates for both seating and reaching high shelves. Designed as a more practical and elegant solution, the lightweight wooden stool is perfectly suited for use both indoors and outdoors.

The Ishinomaki collection, designed by Keiji Ashizawa, is made from locally sourced hardwood, ensuring both durability and suitability for contract use. The simple benches and stools are characterised by their natural wood grain and finished with a laminated surface, making them resilient enough for outdoor use as well.

Keiji Ashizawa

callyIshinomaki Laboratory is a Japanese furniture brand that emerged in the aftermath of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. Originally founded as an open DIY-style workshop, it offered residents of Ishinomaki a hands-on way to rebuild, repair and come together through shared projects. Among other initiatives, Ishinomaki Laboratory worked with the local community to create benches for an outdoor cinema, while workshops launched in collaboration with furniture manufacturer Herman Miller helped bring professional furniture design into everyday life.

Since then, Ishinomaki Laboratory has grown into the world’s first DIY furniture brand, offering a wide selection of high-quality, creativity-driven wooden furniture – all crafted locally in Japan.