Object Stories: Toku furniture by Gavin Harris

By Penny Craswell

The production and sale of Australian design by Australian furniture retailers continues its magnificent rise with the release of several new ranges this year, including Toku, a furniture collection designed by Sydney-based Gavin Harris for Schiavello.

Toku designed by Gavin Harris for Schiavello. Image: Schiavello

The range is low-lying, available in a range of materials, most prominently a blonde or coloured timber and upholstery including some soft secondary colours, marking the move away from the bold primaries that used to dominate the workplace – almost playground-like in their bold colours and shapes as if we were not adults after all.

Interestingly, this range not only suits the modern workplace, with its relaxed and natural tones, but also hospitality and educational spaces as well. For Gavin Harris, who has continued to excel in product design, which he develops in parallel with his work on interior projects for Futurespace, Toku is about creating balance in three dimensional space.

Harris selected the name “toku”, which translates as “talk” in Japanese, because it supports “people connecting, conversing, and collaborating”. This dialogue again contributes to a sense of balance and harmony – these pieces do not shout, competing for attention within a space, but do their job, creating a relaxed environment for the user.

More on Toku

Toku designed by Gavin Harris for Schiavello. Image: Schiavello
Toku bench designed by Gavin Harris for Schiavello. Image: Schiavello
Toku table designed by Gavin Harris for Schiavello. Image: Schiavello
Toku bench designed by Gavin Harris for Schiavello. Image: Schiavello
Toku hospitality designed by Gavin Harris for Schiavello. Image: Schiavello
Toku hospitality designed by Gavin Harris for Schiavello. Image: Schiavello