Goken, Audio Equipment Bench

The bench started as a brief from Audio Concept, who wanted a bench for high-end audio equipment.  It should be made in natural materials and more elegant than those typically found in the hifi-market.

A lower bench is beneficial as the objects on it, or the bench itself is lower than the speaker reflections giving a better soundstage. The lower physical placement of heavy objects feels natural and relaxes the senses.

The bench needed to be able to handle heavy objects (High-end audio is sometimes very heavy) and also deeper than a usual audio bench (High-end audio is usually bulky and therefore also deeper). It therefore needed to be made of solid wood, and be fairly thick to handle the weight.

Audio Concept also asked Claesson Koivisto Rune to design in a way that would make it possible to put several benches together. Or possibly stack them.

Claesson Koivisto Rune chose to round both the underside of the bench surface, but also the surface inside of the legs. This to make it appear lighter, and somewhat disguise its actual thickness. These deliberate design choices make it possible to use the bench in both a classical or a contemporary interior.

Goken is Japanese and roughly means “sturdiness” and “strength”. Also as a description of a the supposedly good character of a person or an object.

Audio Concept is a renowned hifi/highend supplier offering the finest and most innovative products for outstanding domestic music playback.

Claesson Koivisto Rune Architects is a price-winning architectural and design agency with highly acclaimed projects and designs around the world … please see their webpage.