Milan 2015: Japanese design studio Nendo has created two new products for Italian furniture brand Moroso – including a stool that looks like it has missing supports (+ slideshow).
The studio, run by designer Oki Sato, designed Float to look like an archetypal stool but with a seat that is supported by just two of its four legs.
Although it looks like it has missing pieces, the seat actually rests on a cantilevered structure that allows it to flex when sat on.
The frame is made from powder-coated steel piping, with a plywood seat that features an oval hole in the centre, creating a grip for the user to move the stool.
"Two of the four legs have been cut off from under the seating surface, hence creating a visual effect where the seat looks like it it simply floating in the air," said a statement from Nendo.
"By utilising the structure of the cantilever that only supports the back legs, a cushiony feel has been given with the intent to provide a varied comfortable seating experience."
Float is available as a full-size seat or as a shorter foot stool.
The studio has also designed a box-like shelf with three sides for Moroso, which is called Corners and was inspired by the way the placement of small objects like books and trinkets is often focused around corners of a room.
"Placing furniture in the corner of the room will sometimes give off a calming effect," said the studio. "Likewise there is an area of a room that just feels right when you place a book, a mobile phone, a tablet, a key or a clock."
Supported on a single-leg stand with a four-pronged base, the shelf comes in three sizes and is made from thin sheets of coated metal. It is designed to be used as an individual piece or as a modular system, with each shelf able to connect to the others in a variety of ways to create different storage options.
"The dainty size ensures a presence that makes you want to place several of them casually next to a bed or a sofa and line them up," added Nendo.
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The two designs will be added to the range of eight pieces for Moroso by Nendo that are currently in production.
Nendo has produced so much work over the past 12 months that it was able to stage a one-year retrospective during Milan's design week earlier this month.
Among the wide range of work it has already completed in 2015 are chairs for Japanese office brand Kokuyo and Singapore design company Industry+.