This Japanese Cabinet Uses Real Forest Branches as Doors - Yanko Design

"There's something deeply satisfying about furniture that refuses to stay in one place. Not in the sense that it walks around your living room, but in how it adapts, shifts, and changes with you. Taishi Sugiura's Hayashi Cabinet does exactly that, blurring the line between functional storage and something far more poetic. The word "Hayashi" translates to "forest" in Japanese, and once you see this piece, the name makes perfect sense."

"What makes the Hayashi Cabinet genuinely clever is its movability. Each branch can slide left or right along the cabinet frame, letting you customize the openness or privacy of your storage space. Want to show off that vintage record collection? Slide the branches apart. Need to hide some clutter? Push them together. It's like having adjustable blinds, except way cooler and made of wood."

"This design philosophy stems from traditional Japanese spatial concepts. Think about shoji screens and sliding doors in Japanese homes, elements that define space without rigidly locking it down. Sugiura brings that same flexibility to furniture, creating something that responds to your changing needs rather than forcing you to work around it. Some days you want minimalist display, other days you need concealment. The Hayashi Cabinet doesn't judge either choice."

The Hayashi Cabinet uses Japanese cypress branches across the front of the frame instead of traditional doors or panels. The branches are thinned, reclaimed pieces typically discarded after forest management, preserving natural asymmetry and tight grain. Each branch slides left or right along the frame, allowing customization of openness or privacy for displayed items or concealed clutter. The design references traditional Japanese spatial elements such as shoji screens and sliding doors, offering flexible division without rigid confinement. No two cabinets look identical due to varied branch curvature and grain. Light filters through spaces between branches, enhancing display and atmosphere.

Read at Yanko Design - Modern Industrial Design News