Tag Archives: japanese design

This floating farm turns salty seawater into nutrients for agriculture & improves marine environment!

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A Japanese start-up has designed this floating marine farm called Green Ocean using agricultural technology that cultivates seawater as a direct nutrient source! The innovative structure combines salt-resistant technology and sea-friendly architecture to the world a potential solution for the climate change-induced rising sea level problem which comes with heavy salt damage. It harvests rainwater, improves the quality of the water around it, helps with food production while saving water and being a sustainable architectural structure.

Sea level rise is getting progressively worse due to climate change which affects agriculture heavily – it means less land to farm on and also damage to coastal land because of excessive salt. N-ark has developed Green Ocean in partnership with Cultivera which is an agrotechnology R&D company that aims to build the prototype of the floating marine farm by 2022. Seawater agriculture is a special cultivation method that absorbs water and nutrients in the ground and air by mixing and neutralizing alkaline seawater and acidic rainwater. As a result, a huge variety of vegetables can be grown by utilizing the minerals and nutrients contained in seawater!

Green Ocean is a floating, solar-powered, salt-resistant greenhouse constructed with thinned wood and carbon joints. Once it is out on the water, the marine farm will create two new green areas – one will be a food production space that floats on the surface and uses salty agricultural technology and the second will be a layer of algae that will improve the underwater environment. It has a distinctive angular roof that helps to collect rainwater which is then mixed with seawater and used as fertilizer for the plants. Cold seawater is also used for air conditioning within the farms. “By creating a cyclical system environment, Green Ocean plays the role of an adhesive plaster of the Earth,” explains the team.

The basic technology behind seawater agriculture is ‘moisture culture’ which allows cultivation under humidity control. With this method, about 15 cm of the surface layer of natural soil can be reproduced with a special fiber of approximately 5 mm, and vegetables with fortified sugar content and vitamins can be grown by evaporating water with the special fiber by applying water depletion stress to plants. Moisture culture uses one-tenth of the water that is needed in conventional irrigated farming methods and can be applied even in areas where water is not abundant making it a sustainable way to farm at scale.

Designer: N-Ark

The post This floating farm turns salty seawater into nutrients for agriculture & improves marine environment! first appeared on Yanko Design.

This tiny cabin built from local trees incorporates a blend of Scandinavian and Japanese design elements!

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The Nook is a tiny cabin located in the woods of North Carolina’s Appalachia designed with Scandinavian, Japanese, and Appalachian handcrafted elements to weave local craftwork together with a personal history.

As summer draws to a close, winter is coming and so are the snowy getaways. While there’s something to be said about the slow summer days spent at a family cabin by the lake, cozying up beside a fireplace inside a log cabin somewhere in the woods where there’s snow and a hot cup of tea is still unmatched. In the Appalachian forest of Swannanoa, North Carolina, Mike Belleme, an established documentary photographer, felt inspired to devise his own wintry tiny cabin called The Nook.

Brimming with artisanal goods and artwork of local craftsmen and artists, The Nook was designed to bring the handcrafted touch of the old world into the modern era. Described as a “collection of stories,” Belleme designed The Nook to link his personal history to the surrounding forest and architecture of the cabin.

The tiny cabin is constructed from a collection of locally felled trees that Belleme memorized during a five-year stint spent in the Appalachian woods, during which he learned primitive building skills like creating a path of hand-split logs that leads to The Nook’s front entrance.

The timber that gives rise to The Nook varies between white oak, red oak, black walnut, and black locust all to mirror the trees that surround the tiny cabin. The different gradients of woodwork distinguish the rooms of the cabin. Contained within a mere 400-square-meters, The Nook’s living areas are combined into one and present as a single open volume, with the different rooms demarcated by shifting shades of timber. Where the living room expresses dynamic energy with lofty ceilings and cherry wood paneling, the kitchen keeps a more subdued profile achieved with an intimate breakfast nook wainscot in black walnut.

Striking a balance between different interior design cues and movements, Belleme describes The Nook’s design as a marriage between Japanese, Scandinavian, and Appalachian aesthetics. Just above the stripped-back kitchen, Belleme included a Japanese-inspired tea loft in tribute to his parents’ own living period in Japan, who moved on to launch one of America’s first Miso companies.

Every element of the home embodies a sense of minimalism, craftwork, and earthiness, weaving together Belleme’s personal history that brought him from the tea rooms of Japan to the felled trees of North Carolina. Describing the tiny cabin in his own words, Belleme notes on The Nook’s Airbnb listing, “This house is a collection of stories. Stories of cultural and personal history, ecology, and craft. To celebrate this area’s incredible legacy of craft, we’ve collaborated with some of the most talented makers in the region.”

Designers: Mike Belleme

Darker wooden planks line the floors of The Nook while brighter timber coats the ceilings. 

The Nook’s rear deck was also built by hand. 

The Nook maintains an open interior space by incorporating elements like ladders that bring you from the ground-level living area to upstairs bedrooms. 

An outdoor semi-enclosed bath provides the perfect spot to unwind beneath the tree’s canopies. 

A Japanese designer made 100% natural crayons by recycling produce and vegetable waste!

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I am not a parent but I have been around kids enough to know that they will put everything in their mouth and there is always a risk when products designed to keep them entertained are also full of chemicals – like crayons. Crayons (and kids), rarely stay inside the lines and will end up in the child’s mouth or the walls. It is not only a health hazard and a cleaning liability, crayons also have an astonishing environmental impact. A Japanese company, Mizuiro Inc., worked with designer Naoko Kimura to create a sustainable alternative to the traditional crayon. Called Oyasai Crayons, they are made with all-natural ingredients!

Did you know that over 150 million crayons are discarded annually throughout the U.S. by restaurants alone? Most of the crayons in the market are made of paraffin wax, which contains petroleum, a toxic chemical to the environment making the product non-biodegradable and harmful – now imagine a child putting that in their mouth. That is where Oyasai Crayons come in – these safe and organic crayons are made from rice bran oil and rice wax from rice bran. Both solid rice bran wax and liquid rice bran oil are byproducts of the rice polishing process so these crayons are essentially made from waste. The pigment is all-natural too, it comes from recycled plant materials like outer leaves of vegetables are typically discarded after harvesting. However, Oyasai Crayons use this food waste by collecting it and converting it into colors for the crayons. In fact, these are the same pigments used for natural food coloring further showcasing that everything in the product is chemical-free.

Naoko Kimura is the one who came up with the idea when he discovered the colorful options that could be produced by vegetables while working as a graphic designer and parenting from home. He worked on the concept and realized that vegetable waste from harvesting was cast out because it didn’t meet standards and that is what he used to produce the Oyasai crayons in his home country, Japan. As of now, the collection features 10 colors made from Japanese yam, green onion, long potato, burdock, corn, snow carrot, apple, cassis, purple potato, and takesumi (bamboo charcoal). Oyasai Crayons meet the JIS standard which ensures they meet the benchmark for crayon strength. They have also earned the European standard toy safety EN71-3: 2013 certificate as a result of a strict safety inspection and continued on to win numerous design awards. It is important to keep in mind that while these are natural ingredients and a food-grade product, these are not edible crayons but simply a safer, more sustainable, and stress-free option for your child to play with.

Designer: Naoko Kimura

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Scandinavian and Japanese interior designs come together to prove Japandi is not just a passing trend!

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I’m sure you’ve come across the term ‘Japandi’. It’s been gaining a lot of momentum and popularity recently, so let’s dive a little deeper into it. An amalgamation of the words Japanese and Scandinavian, Japandi is an interior design trend that marries Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics. It is the artful blending of both Japanese and Scandinavian design. Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian functionality are merged together to create a style that makes a space minimal without it being cold. Japandi-style spaces are warm, neutral, and comforting, and are smartly integrated with natural materials, craftsmanship, as well as calming color palettes. If this is an interior trend that resonates with you, and you would like to integrate it within your home, then you’re at the right place! We’ve curation a collection of interiors designs that are aesthetically pleasing, wholly functional, and truly Japandi.

Designed by Norm Architects, Archipelago Home is a holiday home that embodies both Scandinavian and Japanese design philosophies. A neutral theme of creams, greys, and whites is maintained throughout the home, with light wood furniture providing the ultimate Japandi finishing touch.

Located in Tokyo, the Inua Restaurant perfectly merges Scandivanian and Japanese aesthetics as well. Designed by OED Studio, the restaurant features Danish cabinetry and Japanese-style gardens. Danish timber floorboards are accentuated by the presence of a grid pattern on the ceiling. This intriguing pattern was inspired by the Japanese Tatami mats and their unique arrangement.

Japanese furniture brand Ariake organized an exhibition at the former Mexican embassy in Stockholm. Several designers from all over the globe took part in it. Clean wooden furniture perfectly complemented the textured and crumbling walls and ceilings. The authentic and ancient craftsmanship of Japan displayed in the stunning pieces was further accentuated by the raw and rustic Scandinavian architecture of the location.

Magdalena Keck designed this holiday home in the Catskill Mountains. Keck infused Japanese minimalism and Danish design, along with a touch of American crafts for the interiors of this home. Wooden floors, Danish furniture designs, Japanese pottery, and aspen wall cladding were used to create a home that feels very Japandi.

Design Studio Daytrip renovated this East London home. They transformed it into a serene and tranquil space by adding white-washed walls, cabinetry crafted from Douglas fir wood, and neutral-colored pieces of furniture. A palette of pale off-whites was maintained on most of the surfaces in the home. It’s a modern and urban living space inspired by Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics.

HAF Studio designed this Japanese burger restaurant Yuzu in Reykjvík. Interestingly, even the interiors are a fusion…of Japanese and Nordic design. Raw natural materials which are seen in Nordic design such as concrete bricks, Douglas fir flooring, and yellow glass were used. Concrete walls left in their raw natural state, and uncolored wooden furniture add a sense of Japanese minimalism to the restaurant.

Norm Architects derived inspiration from both Scandinavian and Japanese design to create this workspace for Kinfolk magazine in Copenhagen. Wood, plaster, and glass were used to create an open and harmonious space, where people can move about freely. Muted and somber tones added a minimal touch, making the space feel less formal and more comforting.

Pan-Projects and Mok Architects combined Nordish and Japanese aesthetics to design Izumi in Copenhagen. The Japanese restaurant features interiors typically seen in Japanese restaurants such as translucent doors, as well as Nordish design such as the generous use of oak.

Designed by LA-based Working Holiday Studio, Casa Mami is a holiday home located in Pioneertown, California. The designers drew inspiration from Scandinavian and Japanese designs for the interiors of the home. Beige walls, grey floors, and minimal and muted furniture pieces create a very Japandi-style home.

The Pantechnicon Store in London was renovated by the architecture firm Farrells for almost five years. Wooden detailing, green plants, as well as a Nordish restaurant and a Japanese cafe create a space that is deeply influenced by Scandinavian and Japanese culture.

Japanese tea rituals inspired this flexible, modular, origami-like wooden table!

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Tea time is significant in many Asian cultures, it is a moment of pause in the day where one can enjoy a peaceful moment of solitude or socialize and relax with friends. Tea time is a beautiful ritual in Japanese culture and Hasu is a tea table inspired by that zen practice. Hasu transforms itself as the tea ritual progresses making it a contemporary piece of furniture that still pays a tribute to the process.

It starts as a minimal compact structure and ends as a complete furniture set for tea time. Hasu’s design allows storing an extensive tea collection while presenting it in a unique and clean manner – it is almost like you can fold or unfold the tea time ritual like origami. There is a lot of storage for all the objects needed for tea rituals and the table allows you to present them one by one during tea time, it is all on-site so everything is handy as well as neatly tucked away. The unfolding of the four upper tabletops marks the beginning of the tea time ritual. Extend the seating to four guests by simply pulling the floor chairs from the table. Even when it is not in use, it still upgrades the space as an abstract piece.

Hasu is produced using several construction techniques (traditional + modern) and different types of wood joineries. The body is crafted from solid oak and features powder-coated aluminum details. It includes a brand new hinge system that was specifically designed for Hasu. The simple yet innovative design gives tea lovers a chance to elevate their rituals without adding clutter. It allows you to disconnect from the surroundings and cherish peaceful moments with loved ones while enjoying the warmth of the teacup in your palms.

“Just like an opening lotus flower, when the first rays of sun caress the horizon during sunrise, symbolizes the start of a new day,” says Mortelmans while perfectly describing the soul of Hasu.

Designer: Dieter Mortelmans

This Japanese wooden electric scooter is designed to solve mobility issues!

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Did you ever imagine an electric scooter made out of wood? I didn’t but it feels like something Geppetto would make if he was in 2020! Lucky for us we don’t have to wait for the master skills of our favorite fable characters, Japanese designer Mikiya Kobayashi has designed a conceptual wooden electric scooter that is especially aimed at those with mobility issues like the often forgotten elderly demographic.

The electric vehicle is called ILY-Ai and it actually can be counted as a trike because it has three wheels – two large ones in the front and a balancing one in the rear end. ILY-Ai is carved from solid timber and is a complete aesthetic contrast to the usual sleek, matte, futuristic electric scooters you see. The concept is developed in collaboration with Aisin’s technology as they are one of the leaders in the world of mobility and they are also well known in Japan for manufacturing automotive parts as well as lifestyle, wellness, energy-related products. Another crucial collaborator is Karimoku, Japan’s leading wooden manufacturers that helped in picking the right kind of wood so that ILY-Ai worked for indoor and outdoor spaces comfortably.

Wood adds a warm and cozy element to the design, Kobayashi has retained the natural timber’s aesthetic for an organic shape/feel. The combination of chestnut wood and aluminum match elevates the design and gives it a user-friendly touch while smoothly hiding the latest mobility technology. One important feature that was included for the elderly and for anyone with mobility issues trying to be independent is the safety sensor that automatically stops the scooter when it detects obstacles. Karimoku lends its years of wood-related study to ensure the design is as functional as its form with the clean curves and padded leather seat for comfort. This wooden scooter almost looks like our most nostalgic childhood toy comes alive with a better purpose to serve us in our adult life!

Designer: Mikiya Kobayashi

This eco luxury hotel’s zen pod is inspired by Japanese design!

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As an avid skier, my dream vacations always involve the Swiss Alps and while ski resorts are amazing, I prefer smaller accommodations like the Whitepod Eco-Luxury hotel – more cozy and intimate for the winters!  Whitepod has a range of geodesic pods to choose from and they all come with panoramic views of the Rhône Valley. One of the most interesting pods is the Zen Suite which is designed by Montalba Architects.

The minimalist yet luxurious pod is nestled in the Dents-du-Midi mountain range of Switzerland and has been inspired by Japanese design and elements. The dome is created using a combination of natural materials and sustainable construction keeping it aligned with the hotel’s goal of maintaining spiritual harmony with the delicate alpine ecosystem. To minimize environmental impact, architects raised the pods on platforms and left the surroundings mostly untouched. The eco-pods are perched on an elevated, stadium-style deck giving guests private and unobstructed views of the stunning landscape from almost every angle.

The Zen Suite’s central circle is enclosed in curved wooden walls and Japanese-inspired accents like tatami floor mats. The pod itself measures 150 square feet with an additional 220 square feet provided by the connected terrace. The eco-pods, bath box and the platforms are all prefabricated. Imagine waking up and seeing sweeping views of the mountains from your bed! Then you proceed to the wooden spa-like bathroom which has been locally made to minimize waste and transportation. The bathroom features an Ozone system that filters water without the use of harmful chemicals. And to finish up your luxury experience there is a beautiful circular bathtub that also allows you to continue taking in the breathtaking views while washing the tiredness away.

“The zen concept found throughout the design is inspired by the Wu Xing philosophy, which states that all things are connected and made up of energy,” says the team. The five elements of the philosophy are represented through the earth, water, wood, metal, and fire which are all found in many thoughtfully designed details in the Zen Suite. These eco domes are truly the architectural embodiment of the calm you experience after self-reflection.

Designer: Montalba Architects

This Japanese compass uses the thread of fate to draw a perfect circle

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Okay, this is by far the most unique compass I have seen! For starters, it doesn’t even look like a compass and brings a whole new drawing experience to the table. ITO (糸) means thread in Japanese and that makes up its backstory as well as its physical. Intrigued?

Inspired by ancient Japanese belief of the red thread of fate, ITO goes back to the roots of drawing a circle by connecting a pin & chalk with a thread and gives it a modern-day twist. The red thread’s story is about connecting those who are destined to meet no matter what – this is then beautifully tied into the body of the compass that splits into two (main body + holder) but always remains connected. As soon as the holder is released, it retracts automatically back to its place in the main body aka finds its way back just like the souls at the two ends of the red thread.

ITO adds a meaningful and creative dimension to drawing a circle without compromising the functionality, aesthetic, and cultural value all in a single tool. To draw, pull out the holder to the desired length and lock it in place. Then hold the top of the compass and rotate the holder around the compass freely to draw your circle. On releasing the locking mechanism the holder retracts back to the main body of the compass intuitively because of a spring coil attached to it.

Made out of a tasteful combination of wood, metal, and the red thread, ITO has an evergreen look. The logo and the measurement markers are inlaid on the wood while the metal-made middle body adds to the details and gives it a sturdier appearance. The Japanese wave patterns carved into the metal surface brings out the traditional and cultural value of the product and ITO truly stands out in a ‘circle’ of stationery.

Designers: Alfred Jerry and Lakshyta Gupta

This article was sent to us using the ‘Submit A Design’ feature.

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A minimal black iron loft adds a modern element to this Japanese town

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At the foot of the rolling hills in Miyazaki, Japan sits a minimalist black house designed by Atelier Kento Eto for a family of four. This black house blends in with the scenic mountains and at the same time stands out in the neighborhood of Kadogawa.

The modern loft is wrapped in black corrugated iron and is a perfect square 8×8 meter cube that reveals little from the outside. The dark exterior is a contrast to the bright white interiors that open up to the light and nature with two large sliding doors. The client wanted to accommodate their desire to host their friends into the floor plan so the house has been built around a double-height entertaining area which is where the gatherings will happen. The ground floor features an open plan living, kitchen and dining area on one side and a bathroom, washroom, and storage area on the other side. Sliding wooden doors at either end of the central hall allows it to be opened up to the outside to make the space larger and airier.

“By connecting the central hall and each room through openings on the walls and the ceilings, the boundaries between the rooms are obscured and openness is maximized within the limited volume”, explains the team of architects. A minimal white staircase leads to the second floor where the residents have their sleeping area that can be accessed via metal bridges suspended across the central area below. Aside from the central sliding doors, just one window on to an upstairs bedroom marks the building’s exterior. “In addition to connecting the east and the west wings overhead, these thin bridges function as a device to stimulate one’s physicality and curiosity in an interior space,” the architects continue, “vertically connecting with the hall and offering views at different heights”.

It is unique in the most subtle ways and makes the most of the natural setting in terms of color, ventilation, light, and styling elements. The loft almost has a mystery box feeling where there is a purposeful surprise hidden in every little detail.

Designer: Atelier Kento Eto

This WWII fighter jet-looking electric bike blends futuristic design with Japanese details

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Electric bikes usually have a futuristic aesthetic and its very rare that an e-bike evokes a sense of nostalgia while fitting within modern times. That is what makes the Katalis EV.500 electric motorcycle special, it is inspired by a WWII fighter aircraft that brings power without pollution. A dear friend described this design as ‘steampunk without the steam’ and we couldn’t agree more.

A Jakarta-based design and branding studio that has expertise in the field of mobility has designed this fighter jet-like electric bike in the middle of a pandemic. In fact, the pandemic influenced the people of Indonesia to be more mindful of their health and make changes in their lifestyle that made the environment around them cleaner – in terms of germs as well as pollutants. There were 3 core variables – 1) freedom in access to mobility 2) happiness 3) pollution-free vehicle. The Katalis is a custom build of a Selis Garuda electric motorcycle injected with the adrenaline of a wartime pilot. The aesthetics are unlike those of a traditional electric bike – the design team got rid of the existing frame and replaced it entirely with a new body made of series 6061 aluminum which gives it the military visual appeal highlighted with Japanese design details while being kind to the planet.

“We think it is quite rare to have an electric motorcycle design that has a metal body or shield,” says Julian Palapa, principal designer at Katalis company. “Furthermore, the rider of this electric motorcycle will also be spoiled by various retro-style yet functional instrument panels — from an analog voltmeter to the light switch.” Katalis hopes that building a custom electric bike while being in lockdown inspires more young designers to channel their energy into boosting their creativity.

Designer: Katalis Company