Page 60 - Flaunt175-diana

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these gardens, you would imagine that Japanese people
n kyoto’s imperial gardens and storied temples, the playful
In the last year, with forced lockdown measures and extended quarantines, the walls that surround us have seemingly become tighter. In response, Iwatake considered the unprecedented social changes afoot and conceptualized designs that integrate a new re- ality. A reconceptualization of a traditional sofa, for instance, sees it severed it into two segments, allowing room for social distanc- ing—as well as an opportunity for a potential table or greenery. “In that unused space of 1.5 to two meters, I wanted to create a more positive space,” Iwatake attests. “I wanted a way for items like chairs, sofas, and tables, which have been taken for granted, to be consciously used to overcome this situation.” Another design includes a table that has been elegantly transformed to include a stylized, glass barrier that allows for two parties to enjoy the table at the same time.
Iwatake, who founded his design office, Shu To, in 2013, and who positioned the aforementioned pieces in hypothetical ‘gar-
tsutsuji (azaleas) and the weathered and twisted kuromatsu (black pine) stir in the wind, accentuated by centuries old architecture. It was in this historical setting that interior designer, Yuki Iwatake, first found inspiration. Over Zoom from Tokyo, he holds up a photo of a gridded lawn of grass and stone; a utopia to collect your thoughts amidst the natural beauty of the flora and fauna. Upon initially viewing
might spend a great deal of time outdoors, soaking in the sun- light among the momiji, but that is hardly the case. “Compared to people overseas,” Iwatake explains, “there are not many instances in which Japanese people actively look to go outside and be in the sunlight. Instead, Japanese people love to view the garden’s scen- ery from the inside of their rooms. Because of this, in Japanese there’s a word, 借景—which translates to ‘borrowed scenery’.”
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