The union of Finnish design and Japanese bamboo
Huippu Design Management Oy The Obi chair is designed by Mikko Paakkanen.This is the first Magaru launch in the European market. The Magaru stand has been crafted by Naoto Niidome and Mikko Paakkanen and the primary material is bamboo.
Finnish design has played a major part in the short history of Magaru. Naoto Niidome and Mikko Paakkanen were involved in the Bamboo House project already at the early stage in 2004. The project was presented in 2005 as an exhibition; in Finland it showed at the Design Forum Finland in Helsinki. Take Create Hagi Ltd. was established in 2006.
The Japanese word ‘magaru’ translates as ’bend’. The factory in the city of Hagi specialises in the form-pressing of bamboo. Both Paakkanen and Niidome have sought to consider in their design the maximum use of the factory capacity and the minimisation of equipment costs. Magaru seeks to resuscitate the wisdom of the past and give boundless shape to bamboo, the “Material of the Future”. Seizing upon bamboo’s tremendous potential, they have developed a technique that enables them to produce curvature with this extraordinary, ecological and sustainable material.
The product line includes a Noste dining set, a Kasa shelf, a Wappa container and an Uribo armchair designed by Naoto Niidome and a modular See storage system, a Daidai chair and an Obi chair designed by Mikko Paakkanen.
www.habitare.fi
Mikko Paakkanen (b. 1975)
Furniture designer
– A designer needs to understand life and materials. In his work, a designer must question things, be foolishly brave and, if needed, humble. My work is guided by curiosity: “What happens if I stick my tongue in a wall socket?”
Paakkanen's works are admired internationally. Recipient of the Fennia Prize 2009, a competition organised by Design Forum Finland.
Naoto Niidome (b. 1974)
Furniture and Fashion Designer
Niidome is an international designer who has produced innovative and humorous works that demonstrate his exploration of timeless beautiful curves and their three-dimensionality as well as his pursuit of materials and new technology. Recipient of the Young Designer of the Year award in 2008.
Comments (5)