In South China, we have a culture of eating tapas-like food called dim sum. When steaming these delicacies, we traditionally use bamboo baskets that can be stacked on top of each other, allowing steam to pass through each layer. This cooking method is gradually being adopted in Western cuisine. Drawing from the memory of my childhood, I envisioned a store where the geometric formation of the dim sum basket is overlaid with a cushion that can open up to store objects within.
In the design, we created three versions: one with a gloss lacquered finish, another using the same material as the original dim sum basket, and the third element in carbon fiber. Each version represents a different area of tradition and technological innovation. We believe that taking inspiration from various elements, even in food preparation, can evolve into furniture designs that surprise and delight the user.