For the 2026 Taipei Design Award

The Makino Bench is designed around the principles of simplicity, producibility and marketability, with its simple construction and use of sustainable materials offers a very durable and unique product.
Makino is a bench designed for parks, recreational and public spaces within the urban environment.

It is named after the Makino bamboo, one of Taiwans most common bamboos -and is a homage to Bamboo, Taiwanese culture and craft traditions, where locally grown Bamboo plays an essential role.

Designed with strong focus on functionality, sustainability, durability, simple maintenance and assembly, with a subtle aesthetics that places the spotlight on the Bamboo, and hereby underlines and supports the importance of Bamboo in Taiwanese culture.

Makino has an elegant and distinctive appearance and an honest and transparent construction, with a unique blend of innovation and tradition which creates a robust, yet welcoming and friendly design with a well balanced contrast between Bamboo and steel.

The construction is based on galvanized 2 steel structures, which are very durable and need no -or very little maintenance and can last for many decades, combined with the horizontally placed and locally grown bamboo stems, this ensures a sustainable and long lasting product.