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Wabi-Sabi™
Structure
2mm Plywood, Dowels, Threaded Rod
Material
Plywood, Steel
Finishing
Melamine, PP, Wood Veneer, Paint, etc.
Standard Dimension
Customisable
Mounting Mechanism
M6 Threaded Rod
Standard Thickness
2mm
Shape
4-leaved quadrilateral
Eco-Friendly Test
EN 13986, E1
Fire-Rated Test
EN 13501-1 : Class B, s1 d0
Acoustics Test
Refer to Specifications
Designer
Elvin Kee
Wabi-Sabi™ is a Japanese philosophy often described as appreciating the beauty in imperfection. The sculpture aims to combine the traditional Japanese thinking with emerging technologies such as parametric modelling, and digital fabrication. Plywood that is 2mm thick is a material that is commonly used in construction sites. They are usually discarded after one use.
Wabi-Sabi™ attempts to look at discarded construction material in a new way, where the imperfections are embraced as parametric art.
Download Specification Sheet PDF
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Elvin is an architecture student from SUTD. His interest in architecture relates to parametric design and also rethinking how we can fuse the traditional with advanced technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wabi-Sabi™ is an architectural sculpture inspired by the traditional Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which celebrates the beauty of imperfection, impermanence and simplicity. The piece uses discarded construction plywood, giving new life to material normally thrown away by embracing its irregularities and imperfections as part of its design.
Wabi-Sabi™ is constructed from thin 2 mm plywood, dowels and threaded rods, with customisable finishes such as melamine, polypropylene, wood veneer or paint. The use of simple, everyday materials underscores the philosophical intent to find beauty in the ordinary.
The sculpture integrates the ancient Japanese wabi-sabi aesthetic with contemporary parametric design and digital fabrication methods. This fusion allows the concept of imperfection to be expressed through algorithmic modelling and precise production techniques while retaining the raw character of the recycled material.
Wabi-Sabi™ reflects principles such as simplicity, humility and acceptance of natural change. Rooted in Zen-influenced aesthetics, wabi-sabi values objects that are imperfect, transient and modest — qualities that this installation embraces by using common construction plywood and celebrating its irregularities.
Yes. Wabi-Sabi™ serves as a conceptual statement piece that can be included in architectural exhibitions, galleries or interior art installations where philosophical design and parametric art intersect. Its use of sustainable materials and digital fabrication also makes it a meaningful addition for projects that explore material reuse and design narratives.