timber columns fuse with metal + glass for shinkyu shon's 'split' furniture collection

seoul-based designer, shinkyu shon, has shared the latest images from his furniture collection called ‘split’. comprising shelves, benches and coffee tables of various sizes, the collection brings together the distinctive features of three very different materials: wood, metal and glass.

images by sangpil lee

shinkyu shon‘s choice of timber reflects his korean background as he utilized solid pine wood that was typically used to build traditional hanok houses in korea. for split, the pine columns provide the robust element of the designs, just like the timber structure of a hanok house.

the collection uses pine wood columns – the same material that’s used to build traditional korean hanok houses

the timber columns are then divided by slices of cool stainless steel and tempered glass. in contrast to the warm, natural wood, the metal and glass intend to express the ‘western beauty of being straightforward and manmade,’  says the designer. in this way, shinkyu shon is conveying the juxtaposition between korean and western design, which are not completely fused with one another. however, the combination of natural and manmade materials are ultimately expressed as one beautiful aesthetic of contrast and division.

split shelf (2020)
mirror stainless steel, hanok column
350 x 1200 x 2100 mm

split table (2020)
tempered glass, mirror stainless steel, hanok column
1100 x 2450 x 750 mm

split table (2020)
tempered glass, mirror stainless steel, hanok column
1100 x 2450 x 750 mm

split coffee table (2020)
tempered glass, mirror stainless steel, hanok column
500 x 1000 x 400 mm

the split collection

the designs fuse warm timber with cool metal and tempered glass 

split shelf (2020)
mirror stainless steel, hanok column
250 x 500 x 1100 mm

split shelf (2020)
mirror stainless steel, hanok column
250 x 500 x 1100 mm

split bench(2020)
mirror stainless steel, hanok column
350 x 1500 x 435 mm

split bench(2020)
mirror stainless steel, hanok column
350 x 1500 x 435 mm

split shelf (2020)
mirror stainless steel, hanok column
350 x 1500 x 1000 mm

split shelf (2020)
mirror stainless steel, hanok column
350 x 1500 x 1000 mm

project info:

project name: split

design: shinkyu shon

photography: sangpil lee