Cappella Far
Juhi Series – Utsuwa, Houyou
The collection is a tribute to the functionality and formal characteristics of the Trachycarpus fortunei plant. Reinterpreting the nature of the bark that wraps and protects the trunk - the heart of the tree - Super Rat develops a new sculptural language, while revealing the latent strength of this material.
In Japan, the bark of the Trachycarpus fortunei has been valued since before the Edo period as a substitute for nylon and vinyl in various traditional processes. By combining the traditional technique of dyeing persimmon tannin, handed down since antiquity, with a mordant extracted from iron scraps, different colours and shapes are obtained that reveal the natural landscape. This process results in the soft yet durable Utsuwa vessels with a unique transparency. As for the Houyou portable table lamp, the bark is moulded into a hollow conical shape. At its top is a metal cap that houses a light source. When switched on, it projects a vertical light beam into the centre of the shade. Illuminated from within, the bark alters its texture and appearance, as if it wanted to embrace the light, revealing fragments and subtle presences inherent in the material. The shape of the shadow, which cradles the light, evokes the gesture of a human embrace.
SUPER RAT is a design studio founded in 2024 by designer Kazuki Nagasawa, based in Tokyo, specializing in interior, furniture, and product design. The studio explores the intrinsic power of the earth and the environment, focusing on maximizing tradition and nature's perspective. It pursues a lasting value that remains unchanged across different eras and contexts.
