ZA, which is the Japanese word that means “to sit,” is a bench series designed by Shin and Tomoko Azumi for North Carolina contract furniture company Davis Furniture Industries. The idea behind the ZA Series is to “emphasize the simplicity of this seating series.” A unique and shapely bench design makes for creating interesting seating areas by putting together the three pieces in the ZA collection like a puzzle.

ZA Series. Designed by Shin and Tomoko Azumi. Manufactured by Davis Furniture Industries.

Modular Magic: Bench Seating with One Seat, Two Seat, and Curved Units

The three units in ZA include a curved seat, as well as one and two seat benches. The units can be combined to form straight or curved seating areas: “This simple yet unique bench design is perfect for adding a shapely form to any lounge or public area.” Available in upholstery or in various oak finishes—blanched oak, dark oak, and black oak—ZA enables healthcare facilities, as well as business and hospitality venues, to customize the design to fit specific spatial and stylistic needs.

The ZA Curved Unit uses 3-D technology to bend plywood so the bench can be shaped to create curved and concaved seating. Interestingly, the process involves cutting plywood “into strips like tooth picks” before re-forming them into a three-dimensional shape. Due to the unique technology, the ZA Curved Unit is only available in an oak veneer, “which allows for the best grain pattern.” This piece transforms formerly boring seating arrangements into dynamic patterns. With circles, semi-circles, or snaking shapes, any lobby or lounge can be more inviting and playful.

About the Manufacturer: Davis Furniture Industries, based in High Point, North Carolina, began in 1944 as the Davis Upholstery Company. Family-owned and operated for four generations, the company now manufactures contract furniture with “superior design in aesthetics and function with an international contemporary influence.” Davis began its focus on modern style in the 1970s when it began licensing European designs: “To date, Davis has had licensee agreements with nine different European manufacturers.”