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Jintana - walnut, he settled on lighter-toned

Imagination in American maple to better complement
the bamboo.
Maple and Bamboo "I was interested maple because

I'd been given a piece before by my
Thai-born Australian furniture designer mentor, Alexandra Pontonio and she
Nae Tanakorn's entry into the prestigious had told me it was stable and with a
Australian Furniture Design Awards imagines beautiful grain and colour," he says. "I process, building prototypes to perfect
a simpler, more harmonious way of life did extra research and I found it to be the door mechanisms and carefully
while showcasing impeccable craftsmanship really strong, when I knocked it, it just crafting molds for the curved elements.
Responding to a brief of ‘Design the didn't damage at all." The complex organic shapes required
World That You Want’, the Jintana cabinet Maple proved an ideal choice for great precision to achieve the high level
draws inspiration from Tanakorn's vision the cabinet's demanding design. Each of fit and finish Tanakorn wanted.

of an ideal existence - one of equality, pod features a spike and cap made Throughout the process, he drew
respect, sustainability and peace. from solid maple, with brass connectors. inspiration from the work of acclaimed
For this year’s ATDA’s he wanted to create Tanakorn notes, "I had to drill the Australian designers. "Having been trained
a piece that would evoke this philosophy maple for the supports for the pods. and admired the likes of Alexandra
while also providing a counterpoint to I was drilling 15mm into small stems Pontonio and Adam Markowitz, I know
society's capitalistic tendencies. and it worked really well, it felt strong what sort of quality someone like that
"I feel everyone has a chaotic lifestyle and there was no splitting." The maple would expect or be happy with and that

these days and I thought, why are we for his design was donated by Britton was what I was aiming for” he says.
doing this?" Tanakorn explains. "My Timbers, who allowed him to select the Besides its striking aesthetics, the
piece is to reflect the philosophy that boards he needed from their extensive, Jintana cabinet also embodies Tanakorn's
we need to live a simpler life." quality stock. dedication to sustainability. Organic,
The design concept centres around To create the intricately woven bamboo fast-growing bamboo makes up the bulk
four connected pod-like structures, doors, Tanakorn collaborated with artisans of the piece, with processing methods
each representing a "seed" of purity, at the Traditional Bamboo Handicraft Centre chosen to minimise waste. The maple was
potential and new beginnings. Tanakorn in Chonburi, Eastern Thailand. also sourced with sustainability in mind.
elaborates, "Each pod represents an There he learned about traditional In the end, Nae Tanakorn's Jintana

individual decentralised community, yet bamboo basket weaving techniques that cabinet stands as a stunning example of
still connected to each other." The pods have been passed down for generations. contemporary Australian design and a
attach to a central triangular core with The doors feature a delicate pattern testament to slow, intentional living. By
thin, tapered legs. called "Pigul Lai Thai" that showcases combining his Thai heritage, masterful
Wanting to echo the materials used the craftspeople's incredible skill. craftsmanship, and sustainable sensibilities,
in traditional, sustainable communities, With over 72 connecting pieces and Tanakorn has contributed a unique voice
Tanakorn chose to work primarily with 30 timber panels, constructing the Jintana to Australia's creative culture. The piece

wood and bamboo. cabinet was no small feat. Tanakorn was shown at Stylecraft in Melbourne as
After initially considering American went through an extensive development part of Melbourne Design Week 2024.