Click to download the "Jianze - Zhu Brochure 2025".

Since 2023, Jianze has collaborated with Finnish designer Ville Kokkonen on a research initiative exploring the potential of Chinese bamboo in contemporary craftsmanship. This project seeks to identify bamboo species with unique aesthetic and structural qualities, while documenting the profound cultural legacy of bamboo in Chinese traditions. 

Over the course of this collaboration, we have engaged with master artisans across China, including bamboo expert Wang Rong Long, who introduced us to 棕竹 (Zong Zhu)—a rare solid bamboo with a fibrous core. Woodcraft master Yin Hong Qiang adapted traditional mortise-tenon joinery to this material, achieving remarkable structural integrity. In 2024, bamboo weaving master Hu Zheng Ren joined the project, bringing his expertise in traditional weaving techniques to explore new possibilities for modern design. 

These discoveries, rooted in millennia-old practices, are now being reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary craftsmanship. The findings from this ongoing research will be unveiled progressively, offering new perspectives on bamboo’s cultural significance and its potential to shape the future of design.

ZHU LOUNGE CHAIR

棕竹, 白橡木 / Zong Zhu, Oak

H770×W500×D640

SD:440, SH:350

Made by Yinshi

€3500

ZHU SIDE TABLE

棕竹, 玻璃 / Zong Zhu, Glass

H440×W500×D400

Made by Yinshi

€1900

Photo by Tom Dagnas, celiaspenard-ko, White Cube