In the wide spectrum of innovative materials available to designers, it's the challenging ones that create the most intrigue. For a new cross-cultural collaboration, French designer José Lévy has taken traditional rice straw tatami and created a new selection of furniture for Japanese manufacturers Daiken.
Launched at Maison et Objet, the sensual collection is titled ‘Moving Tatamis’ and embraces the material’s heritage as traditional Japanese flooring. Channelling the washitsu style, the range of seating, side tables and storage merges organic hues and a panelled aesthetic.
Being the first ever furniture collection to be made out of the material meant some tweaking. The structures were woven from traditional Japanese washi paper instead of straw to solidify and add resistance to the material, while retaining the desirable lightweight quality.
Levy’s strong connection to Japan and its materials was fostered from a young age. ‘It was my first experience of anything exotic of some other place, of the "unusual yet beautiful",' he says. ‘All these objects fascinated me. They were very important in my relationship with anything foreign, beautiful, dreams and distinction.’ Not only do the soft curls that mark the edges of the table and bench reflect an Asian design sensibility, the additional materials are also reminiscent of the region. Precious woods, lacquer and light woods merge with tatami to create simple, warm furniture; contemporary minimalist silhouettes standing on slim short legs.
Following Maison et Objet, the ‘Moving Tatamis’ will be available to purchase from Paris' Joyce Gallery.
The sensual collection is titled ‘Moving Tatamis’ and embraces the material’s heritage as a flooring found in various Japanese homes
Channelling the washitsu style, the range of seating, side tables and storage merge organic hues and a panelled aesthetic
Precious woods, lacquer and light woods merge with tatami to create a simple, warm furniture, with contemporary injections
Lévy’s strong connection to Japan and its materials was fostered from a young age. ‘It was my first experience of anything exotic of some other place, of the "unusual yet beautiful"'
INFORMATION
For more information, visit Daiken’s ’Moving Tatami’ website
-
Maison et Objet: Wallpaper's 15 highlights from France's leading homes and interiors fairThe design year has officially begun with the launch of Maison et Objet. Our on-the-ground correspondent reports on its standout moments
-
This new rug release from Floor Story is causing a cosmic eclipseKangan Arora and Floor Story have designed ten otherworldly illusions of form and tone – the ‘Cosmic Check’ and ‘Falling Shadows’ rug collections
-
Scandinavian design meets Japanese heritage in OEO Studio’s Tokyo apartmentOEO Studio has collaborated with Japanese property developer ReBita on a luxury new apartment at Tokyo’s Opus Arisugawa Terrace & Residence
-
Nendo and Georg Jensen create silver vases inspired by natureJapanese design studio Nendo and Danish silversmith Georg Jensen create a set of three silver vases that combine organic forms and minimalist aesthetics
-
Niwaki is a new outlet for Japan’s most innovative toolsNew London store Niwaki sells exquisitely crafted Japanese gardening tools and workwear
-
André Fu’s new furniture is inspired by Japanese gardensAndré Fu Living’s Art Deco Garden is a collection of furniture, objects, wallcoverings and homeware inspired by Zen gardens and Art Deco
-
Japanese minimalism meets Scandinavian design in Karimoku Case StudyThe Azabu Residence by Keiji Ashizawa and Norm Architects’ Frederik Alexander Werner is part of the Karimoku Case Study project, and features a sombre material palette and restrained colour scheme for a peaceful family interior
-
Snøhetta designs experimental culinary space in TokyoSnøhetta co-founder Craig Dykers discusses the architecture of Burnside – a Tokyo event space for art and design outfit En One and the Bronx chef collective Ghetto Gastro
