A soban (소반, small table) was one of the most important pieces of furniture during the Joseon dynasty (1392-1910). As there was no separate dining room in a traditional Korean house, the soban was used as a tray to carry the meal from the kitchen to wherever the diner sat. Meals were often served on individual tables for men from affluent families while larger tables were shared by women. Made of wood, those tables showed shapes and decorative motifs that varied according to regions. A wonban (원반, round table) is a type of soban, fashioned from one single piece of wood using a lathe. The log had to be wider than the table, and a significant amount of material was wasted to hollow the foot and make the table light.
Ha revisits the wonban’s structure and separate the table top from its foot in order to ease the manufacturing process and reduce unnecessary waste. Varnished pinewood provides a sturdy and waterproof table top while anodised coloured-aluminium sheet works as a light and playful foot, with grooves left from its making process that visually echo the grooves left on the wonban by the lathe.