Sanya Arts Space

Works of industrial designer Tokujin Yoshioka are quintessentially modern and sculpturistic in nature and the the "Waterfall" Table is no different. Having the distinction of being the world's largest optical glass table, "Waterfall" once again solidifies Yoshioka position as one the most critically acclaimed Asian designers. Commissioned by a private gallery in Tokyo, "Waterfall" measures a whopping 4.5 meters and will be seen at the 'Spectrum' exhibition at Beyondmuseum in Seoul, Korea.

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If Muku was about paying homage to traditional craftsmanship, the "W101" is all about the future! A concept by Swedish lighting company Wästberg, the "W101" task light employes cutting-edge technology in conjunction with a green philosophy and the end result is quite innovative. The task light has been made from a material called "DuraPulp" which for the uninitiated is a mix of paper pulp and starch polymer. Designer Claseeon Koivisto Rune assures of its durability and its ability to withstand heat. Since it integrates white LEDs with asymmetric reflectors and asymmetric diffusers, the task light is also energy efficient. You can catch the "W101" Task Light at the Milan Design Week 2010.

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Muku Lanterns at first glance looks out of place in todays A&D scene which is dominated by sleek lines, bright hues and modern styles. However this is intentional by designers Tasuo Yamamoto and Jun Hashimoto and we applaud their move to ignore contemporary rhythm and experiment with traditional styles. The two lanterns have been inspired by traditional japanese lamps called 'Ouchi Andon' but the designer duo have given their own subtle modern twist to them. The lanterns have been made from different materials including aluminum, acrylic a, wood and will be exhibited during the Milan Design Week 2010.

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“Umarmung” was a piece originally commissioned for a private residence in Tokyo, Japan. The floor sitting couch is perhaps the first of its kind. The Zaisu chair has graced Japanese culture for centuries creating awareness around the world with its floor sitting design. The natural evolution is for “floor sitting design” to move into other furniture objects, in this case a couch. Christhoph Vogl had this to say about the project, “Umarmung is inspired by the long tradition of floor-sitting culture in Japan where the connection between the body and conversations is not restricted to universal seat height and conventional definition of sofa”.

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Zaisu chairs are a floor sitting piece of furniture that came into style in Japan during the Muromachi period. During that period of architecture floors were covered in thick straw mats known as “tatami”. The ruling warrior class created strict rules about living daily lives which brought on the sitting posture called “seiza” as it was deemed the respectful way to sit. Now, Japanese dining furniture sets featuring Zaisu chairs are popular as families adopt traditional Japanese ways of living in an effort to improve the connection a family feels while spending time together. Via.

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