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Minhwan Kim's Layer series does more than curve timber. It rewrites the logic of furniture production entirely. Rather than relying on steam-bending or subtractive carving, Kim approaches each chair as a topographical study, slicing three-dimensional forms into contour layers and translating them into flat, CNC-cut wood pieces. The components nest efficiently on a single sheet, transforming what would typically become waste into a precision-fit assembly with near-zero material loss. Once stacked and sanded, the profiles merge into a seamless wave, grain lines flowing with the warmth of handcraft despite their digital origins. The real appeal lies in the restraint. Computational design here operates as invisible infrastructure rather than visual spectacle. The outcome is understated, almost anonymous: a dark, quiet stool that simply meets the body. In a landscape fixated on novel materials, Layer offers a different proposition. Same wood, sharper thinking, lighter footprint.
November 28, 2025
