In 2002, at TIME & STYLE GALLERIA, Minamiaoyama, Tokyo, under the direction of design director
Mr. Shu Hagiwara, we held an exhibition of original mobiles by more than 10 different designers.
The mobiles were filled with ideas of each designer, and slowly moved in the air of the usually quiet
shop. It felt like the whole building was swaying in the wind during the exhibition.
Ten years later, in 2011, chairs and stools designed by DRILL DESIGN and under the name Village,
were presented in the same place, but the name of shop was different, TIME & STYLE HOUSE
STORAGE.
Drill Design at the exhibition in 2002 was of course 15 years younger from now but they were like
a breath of fresh air in this Industry back then. They did not have the aura of that special kind of
person called a designer, but had more of an academic atmosphere such as literature or history,
which differs from that in design. In addition, they seemed to have an attitude of directness and
going straight ahead, forging their own way, while being uncertain at the same time. Ten years have
passed since I met Mr. Hayashi at the mobile exhibition, but he still has that strength deep within his
eyes. His straight and decent look seems to know the way DRILL DESIGN should go.
Finally, in 2010, a joint project to produce a Windsor type of chair and stool called Village began.
Even now, DRILL DESIGN’s method has not changed. An actual full scale model is made by their
own hands through the entire production process. Their concept is reflected in the prototype
process. They continue working until their mentality, their very life, is embodied in their work,
while confirming that sensation by actually using their own brain and their own hands. This in turn
naturally leads to products that fit the DRILL DESIGN image. Village, presented in 2011, is a piece of
happiness carved out of the village that exists in DRILL DESIGN’s imagination. The sense of warmth
that wraps the stool is different from the simplicity of their chair, and originates from the scenery of
this happy village.
Every part of components of Village is made from solid wood. The spokes which are characteristic
of the Windsor chair are directly sunk into holes in the seat to portray an arc and attached. This
structure utilizes a bonding method to provide maximum strength. The natural wood arm goes
around as if joining the spokes, resulting in a back design characteristic of the Windsor chair. A
common characteristic of all Village side chairs, arm chairs, and stools is the details of the back of
the seat. Conventionally, the legs of a Windsor chair directly attached to the bottom of the seat.
However, maintaining strength is difficult with such a structure. Hence, Village uses a cross type
component to connect the seat and legs and to ensure leg strength, and the natural wood seat
prevents the chair from flipping over, creating a stable chair. Contours, called “zaguri,” are carved
into the seat to gently cradle the person sitting on the chair. The side chair and stool were released
in 2011. The seat of this stool is little higher than most stools, and can be flexibly used as stool for
working in the kitchen or various other situations. Village Arm and high stool were released in 2013.
As a new line-up, Village Arm and high stool are designed to widen out the world view of Village
with their relaxed presence like that of a lounge chair and as a bar stool.