Ishi Stool
Sit anywhere. Belong everywhere.
The Ishi began as a question we kept asking in our architecture practice: why does furniture need legs? A stool is the simplest form of seating — a surface at sitting height. Strip away convention and what remains is a single volume that meets the body.
The form is generated by a Grasshopper algorithm that sweeps a concave airfoil profile — what we call the ENWA Edge — around a closed curve. The result is a shape that appears impossibly thin from across the room but feels substantial under your hand. The base tapers to a soft radius that creates visual tension: it looks like it might tip. It won't. The centre of gravity sits low, rooted by the density of solid European oak.
At 400mm, the height is deliberate — low enough to pair with a sofa, tall enough to sit on comfortably. Flip it upside down and the seat becomes a surface for a book or a glass. One form, two functions, no compromise on either.
9 of 12 available this quarter
A presence,
not a piece.
European white oak. Sits between furniture and object — rest a glass, take a seat, or let it anchor a corner of the room. The Ishi doesn't demand a context. It creates one.
Every curve,
continuous.
Each Ishi starts as a block of European oak, rough-cut on a 5-axis CNC mill to within millimetres of its final form. From there, everything is by hand — three days of graduated sanding, checking every transition by touch. The ENWA Edge demands this: a concave curve that machines can approximate but only hands can perfect.
WARM SAND
BLACK TIDE
SOFT CLOUD
BURNT AMBER
MUDDY MOSS
DRY CLAY
Two finishes.
Same oak underneath.
Natural Oak
The oak arrives kiln-dried and quarter-sawn. After shaping, we apply thin-coat urethane in multiple passes — each sanded between coats — until the surface protects without concealing. Semi-gloss. You can feel the grain ridges under your fingertips. It deepens to honey over years of light exposure. Zero maintenance.
Charcoal
Our most difficult finish to develop. The brief: a black deep enough to read as charcoal from across the room, but thin enough to keep every grain ridge tactile under your hand. Most black finishes bury the wood. Ours builds depth through multiple ultra-thin pigmented layers, each hand-sanded before the next. In raking light, the oak reveals itself through the black.
One base. Many moods.
Add a cushion. Change the fabric. Or leave it bare — the oak speaks for itself. Standard fabric is Kvadrat Savanna, a textured wool from Denmark's leading textile house, included in the base price. Premium: Dedar Karakorum mohair velvet (+$200) or full-grain leather (+$300).
Dimensions
Complete the Look
Questions & Answers
Yes, the Ishi Stool works perfectly as both a stool and a side table. The 400mm height pairs well with sofas and lounge chairs.
Each piece is handcrafted to order. Standard lead time is 12-16 weeks including production and shipping to US & EU. We'll keep you updated throughout the process.
Yes, we offer complimentary white-glove delivery to the US, Europe, Middle East, Japan, and Asia Pacific. Shipping typically takes 1–4 weeks after production, depending on your location.
Visit our Tokyo showroom by appointment. Contact us to schedule a viewing where you can experience the craftsmanship firsthand.
The Ishi is a single continuous form — one piece of solid European oak, algorithmically carved. No joints, no assembly, no separate seat and legs. It works as a stool, side table, or sculptural object. At $1,400, it's the most accessible entry point to architect-designed furniture.