One of the highlights of Copenhagen’s ‘3 Days of Design’ festival back in May was the launch of Karimoku Case Study – a new lifestyle brand developed by Japanese furniture manufacturer Karimoku, Copenhagen-based Norm Architects and Tokyo designer Keiji Ashizawa – and today I want to share a look at the project that kickstarted it.
Located in the Setagaya district of Tokyo and originally built in the 1980s, Kinuta Terrace is a complex of 36 apartments arranged around a central courtyard. Ashizawa first approached Norm Architects about collaborating on the renovation of two of the units in spring 2018, and photos of the completed spaces have just been released.
Working with the existing structure, the two studios balanced industrial and natural elements, as well as referencing both Japanese and Scandinavian design traditions. The result is a pair of double-height spaces with a harmonious, sanctuary-like feel, where concrete walls sit alongside warm-hued wood, semi-sheer linen curtains and softly textured woollen rugs.
Each apartment has been designed to let air and light pass through, creating a natural flow around the interiors, while large windows face onto the leafy courtyard and provide the residents with an important connection to the natural world. In addition, repetitive patterns have been used to enhance the soothing ambiance, with staircases, railings and wall panels mimicking the lines of the external architecture.
To furnish the apartments, Ashizawa and Norm worked with Karimoku to produce bespoke pieces, and it was then that the idea for a joint brand was born. The result is the ‘Kinuta Collection’ – a series of 12 items which appear across both spaces and now make up Karimoku Case Study’s inaugural range. There are beautifully understated sofas, chairs, tables and bookcases, all crafted from oak, marble and glass and designed to be as timeless as possible. Many of them also feature details inspired by visits to Japanese temples and gardens – the coffee table, for example, reflects the rhythm of traditional temple roof lines.
The accessories have all been carefully chosen, too. There are are minimalist wooden spheres, textured sculptures and stoneware ceramics with imperfect, organic shapes. I particularly love the oversized potted plants, which echo the trees in the courtyard and bring another element of the outdoors in.
My favourite aspect of both apartments, though, is the interplay between light and shadow – something which the designers sought to emphasise at every opportunity. Who wouldn’t want to sit back on one of those sofas, bathing in golden sunshine as the silhouettes of leaves dance across the floor…?
If you like the look of this project, you can see more from Karimoku Case Study in my round-up of 3 Days of Design. And there’s another fantastic Japanese-Scandinavian collaboration to admire in this post.
Photography by Jonas Bjerre-Poulsen of Norm Architects
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