Areaware: Everyday Objects with Wit and Brains
Areaware from New York brings designs by independent designers into everyday life: David Weeks' Cubebot, Blockitecture blocks, Table Tiles and candles. Founded in 2005, a sister brand of the puzzle company Piecework since 2026.
Products
Blockitecture Factory Wooden Building Blocks
Blockitecture Factory is a building block set consisting of ten wooden pieces. Made from New Zealand pine, they’re carefully painted to look like little house facades with windows. Use them to design and build cities, factories, and residential areas, and combine them with other Blockitecture sets.
Blockitecture Garden City Wooden Building Blocks
Blockitecture Garden City is a building block set for architects of all ages. Ten wooden pieces made of New Zealand pine can be stacked to create cities, parks, and residential landscapes. They are carefully painted and feature windows that look like little house facades.
Cast Iron Candle Holders & Incense Holders
A simple cast-iron candleholder that combines three functions in one. The top holds a taper candle, while the space under the removable lid provides room for a tea light or an incense stick. You decide the mood: one flame or all three at once.
Cowboy Matches – Matches
Areaware Cowboy Matches come in boxes of 100 matches that light on any rough surface. No special striking strip required. Perfect for use with the Areaware Match Striker or on their own for candles, fireplaces, and fire pits. Rustic design with Western charm.
Cubebot Small Wooden Robot
Cubebot Small is a wooden robot inspired by Japanese kumi-ki puzzles. Wood and rubber bands allow it to strike dozens of poses—sitting, standing, or running. When it’s time to rest, it folds into a perfect cube. A toy for all ages.
Hanno the Gorilla
Hanno, the wooden gorilla by David Weeks, can be posed in countless ways thanks to its elastic-band joints. Made from sustainably harvested beech wood, it measures 22 to 25 cm and is virtually indestructible. A design classic for both play and display.
Harmonyball Silver Rattle Barbell
The Harmonyball baby rattle has a soft, rich sound rather than a shrill one. Hand-tuned to sixteen notes, it is crafted from nickel silver with a thick sterling silver plating. A timeless gift for a birth or baptism that will be cherished for years to come.
Match Striker
The Areaware Match Striker, made of solid cast iron, keeps a handful of matches within easy reach; designed by Josh Owen. Light the matches directly on the body, and place used matches in the tray to cool. Remove any residue with a drop of olive oil.
Bean Chalk Street Chalk
Bean Chalk is twisted street chalk available in many cheerful colors. Thanks to its intertwined, interlocking shapes, you can draw with twice the color intensity. Slide, drag, twist, and roll it on a chalkboard, wall, or street for endless outdoor drawing fun.
Cubebot Small Guthrie Wooden Robot
Cubebot Small in the Guthrie color scheme is a wooden robot modeled after Japanese kumi-ki puzzles. Wood and rubber bands allow it to strike dozens of poses—sitting, standing, or running. When it’s time to rest, it folds into a perfect cube. For all ages.
Areaware at a glance
- Origin
- Brooklyn, New York, United States (US)
- Founded
- 2005
- Founded by
- Lisa Yashon and Noel Wiggins
- Known for
- Design objects and toys by independent designers, from Cubebot to Blockitecture
- Principle
- Designs by independent designers, over 50 artists since 2005
- Classic
- Cubebot by David Weeks, in the range since 2010
- Since 2026
- Sister brand of the puzzle company Piecework
About Areaware
A group show for everyday things
Areaware is a design label from New York, founded in 2005 by Lisa Yashon and Noel Wiggins. Independent designers create the products; Areaware handles development, production, marketing and distribution. Wiggins once compared the range to a group show, and the selection is just as strict.
From Cubebot to mini puzzle
In 2010 David Weeks’ Cubebot joined the range, a wooden robot that folds into a cube. It opened Areaware up to toys and puzzles for all ages and, according to Fast Company, brought in 18.7 million dollars in sales. In 2018 Little Puzzle Thing became the first in-house design.
More than 50 designers
Since 2005 Areaware has worked with more than 50 artists, including James Paulius (Blockitecture), Bower (Table Tiles), Talbot & Yoon (Goober candles), Dusen Dusen and Rilla Alexander, whose Palimals came out in 2024. Several designs won a Good Design Award.
A new start with Piecework
In early 2026 Areaware announced it would close because of US tariffs. In May 2026 the puzzle company Piecework acquired the brand. Areaware remains a sister brand under its own name and is set to keep working with independent designers.
Areaware x One Horizon
We stock the Cubebot in several sizes, Blockitecture blocks, Table Tiles, candles and candle holders in cast iron, glass and concrete, brass key rings and the Match Striker. You pay in Swiss francs, we ship from Switzerland, no customs fees.
Frequently asked questions about Areaware
Yes. Every product is a genuine Areaware product from New York. We ship from Raron; you pay in Swiss francs and there are no customs fees.
A wooden robot by David Weeks, inspired by Japanese kumiki puzzles. Its wooden parts sit on elastic cords, hold dozens of poses and fold back into a cube. We stock it as Cubebot Small and Cubebot Medium, among others.
Almost always independent designers, more than 50 since 2005, including David Weeks (Cubebot), James Paulius (Blockitecture), Bower (Table Tiles), Talbot & Yoon and Dusen Dusen. Less than a tenth is designed in-house, such as the Little Puzzle Things.
Building blocks by architect James Paulius, shaped like small house façades with windows. A set such as Garden City has ten pieces in pine and combines with other Blockitecture sets.
Yes. In early 2026 Areaware announced it would close because of US tariffs; in May 2026 the puzzle company Piecework acquired the brand. Areaware continues as a sister brand under its own name and keeps working with independent designers.
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