Six And A Half Feet Up And Down

Joiner Jan Gerritsen lets us talk about life and embrace death, within our home, by designing a coffin that joins its owner on its life journey.

This project is now archived and was part of DDW23

Coffin Couch by Jan Gerritsen

Wisse Trooster

As life progresses and you arrive at a different phase, the coffin's use can be altered to match your needs. The coffin is designed to be used as a book cabinet, a couch, or a storage box. In addition to presenting this project, Jan will give workshops in planing wood.

Life's journey

Using the coffin throughout your life and giving it a prominent place in your house breaks the taboo of death. Transforming something abstract that is always there into something tangible. It will be a tool to open up conversations about death between the owner of the coffin and the visitors to its house. During Dutch Design Week, the goal is to talk about life and the end, that's how to live. Every product made by mankind is also a similar process to our lives: concept, design, production use, and some changes because of wear. During the use, you will change with the object.

Joiner Jan Gerritsen

Decades in the craft. Theoretical education, extensive knowledge in a broad field. Constantly developing oneself while expanding expertise and creating practical tools, furniture, repairs, restorations, and woodworking. I hold great respect for all materials. The tree grows, yielding good wood, at least a century old. It's a marvel how we, as humans, have developed materials like metal and glass. I handle materials with utmost consciousness, more so than with myself, out of respect. Beyond mere ownership, consider the producer and think of the tree. When you know the material and engage with it consciously, you discover its hidden qualities and beauty. Take wood, for instance, its grain. You turn the piece around to reveal its true essence—an unexpected outcome—the sense of wonder.