‘Strangers In a Room’ was a design residency in japan; conducted with my partner Maya Ben David on the summer of 2016. Ittook place in the small town of Hida Furakawa at the Gifu prefecture Japan. The project looked at the traditional Japanese room in general and at the space of the Tokonoma in specific; while keeping in mind the designers positioning as strangers to Japanese culture. Being such, our is the role of “skilled observers”, reflecting on a situation highly foreign to them, yet, with a first hand understanding of a space, which comes from living in it for around a month. The Tokonoma is an alcove which traditionally showcased items (mainly Ikebana and Calligraphy) for artistic appreciation and as means of welcoming important guests. Nowadays Tokonomas are often left untouched; as the skills and artifacts necessary to perform their original function are uncommon, for many modern Japanese. The space of the Tokonoma reveals cultural needs which are unique to Japanese culture; the examination of the empty space, the presentation and debate of nature within a manmade space. 3EW therefore, it seemed to offer a good opportunity for the juxtaposition of cultural qualities. Collaborators: Craftsman: Mr Katada san Commissioned: Hida FabCafe design residency Materials: Regional chestnuts with traditional Japanese joinery, Laser cut Plexiglas (high polish) mirror. 2016 As foreigners the Tokonoma raised questions about contemporary functions, of living spaces and more specifically, questions regarding the terms ‘comfort’ and ‘usage’. The proposed design is a furniture piece offering a place for storage, an accessible place for presenting and curating objects and a “space within a space” in the shape of a house under a full moon (mirror), offering the notion of a small outdoor landscap

Collaborators: Craftsman: Mr Katada san Commissioned: Hida FabCafe design residency
Materials: Regional chestnuts with traditional Japanese joinery, Laser cut Plexiglas (high polish) mirror.
2016