Japanese designer Keiji Ashizawa looked to both the world of architecture and his own background in steel-working when creating his strikingly simple desk in natural or stained oak. Rail Desk employs a spare steel "frame"—inspired by the handrail of a staircase—to define the negative space and provide a tactile contrast to the wood surface. Conceived with versatility in mind, it can function as a desk, counter or shelf to store books and be hung at any height that the need dictates.