In Collaboration with Karimoku Furniture
‘In Collaboration with’ explores the nature of collaboration between Foster + Partners Industrial Design, its clients, and manufacturers. Each feature explores how long-term relationships evolve through shared values, expertise, and innovation across disciplines.
This month, we focus on the studio’s partnership with Karimoku Furniture Inc., and our most recent collaboration with the brand to develop pieces for 270 Park Avenue in New York.
Founded in 1940 as a small woodworking shop in Kariya, Japan – Karimoku Furniture has since evolved into a long-established Japanese wood furniture manufacturer. A deep respect for timber defines their philosophy, supported by a fully integrated production system – from wood sourcing to finishing – that is carried out in-house. This approach provided a strong foundation for the collaboration with the Industrial Design studio.
The partnership began in early 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, through Karimoku Case – a platform established to develop furniture products in collaboration with architects. The initial collection demanded a bespoke furniture range capable of accommodating a building’s diverse functions, while aligning with the architectural vision. A dedication to material, texture and finish quickly revealed a shared sensibility between the studios – forming the basis of an ongoing creative partnership. This was reinforced through a focus on material integrity, iterative prototyping, and an understanding of how furniture interacts with spatial environments, with wood considered not just as a medium but as a living element within a space.
Mike Holland, Head of Industrial Design, Foster + Partners, said: “Working with Karimoku Furniture has allowed us to explore and deepen our understanding of the unique relationship between furniture and architectural space. Furniture collections are not viewed as standalone objects, but as integral and integrated components of the built environment. The partnership also brings attention to detail and a high level of craftsmanship to the collaborative process."
Karimoku Furniture added: “By combining Foster + Partners Industrial Design capabilities and rigorous process with materials and our advanced woodworking expertise, we were able to translate a highly considered way of thinking into timeless pieces. By maintaining a focus on material integrity, iterative prototyping, and an understanding of how furniture interacts with spatial environments, seeing wood not just as a medium but as a living element within a space.”
Designed with Norman Foster and the Industrial Design team, the NF Collection comprises a dining chair, two stools, a lounge chair, a sofa, and a coffee table and dining table. Developed entirely through a remote process, the teams continuously collaborated through extensive prototyping, digital models and iterative refinement. CNC machining was introduced during the early stages of the prototyping process to accurately reproduce complex three-dimensional shapes, ensuring that the design intent is realised with a high level of precision.
In 2025, the NF Collection was adapted to meet the unique requirements of JPMorganChase’s global headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in New York. Walnut wood and leather upholstery – new materials introduced for the NF Collection– were chosen for the new office building. Several products were resized to accommodate the spatial configurations of the workplace, ensuring seamless integration with the architecture. Bespoke elements such as banquettes, corner sofas, tables and timber screens were also developed. Modular in design, these pieces allow for flexible reconfiguration, enabling the NF collection to respond to the evolving nature of the workplace.
Mike Holland commented: “The bespoke elements and reconfigurable pieces – designed in collaboration with Karimoku Furniture – evolved through a continuous, integrated and collaborative process between different disciplines, ensuring a consistent vision from concept to completion. Grounded in a deep understanding of how the building will be used by JPMorganChase’s employees – the furniture is specifically tailored to the company’s needs.”
The NF Collection was engineered to meet the testing standards of BIFMA (Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association). This ensures that the products have long-term durability, addressing key aspects of sustainability with a focus on longevity.
Beyond 270 Park Avenue, the collaboration has informed other product-led briefs, including the ‘Four Twenty Five’ restaurant at 425 Park Avenue. The collection features a chair, bar stool, lounge chair, and sofa, made in walnut wood and burgundy leather. Sharing the same distinctive smooth and organic form, each item has been manufactured through Karimoku Furniture’s state-of-the-art woodworking technology and meticulous hand-craftmanship at every stage of production.
The collaboration between Foster + Partners Industrial Design and Karimoku Furniture continues to evolve, grounded in mutual respect and a shared belief in the value of craft and making. It is a partnership that reflects the precision of industrial design, the sensitivity of natural materials, and the meticulous craft of woodwork. Even in a globalised and digital era, design remains most powerful when shaped by the human hand and guided by shared values.
