CONDE HOUSE at Milan Design Week 2019: the “Fuorisalone”

On 9-14 April 2019, Conde House will participate in Milan Design Week 2019: the “Fuorisalone” held in the city at the same time as the Salone del Mobile.Milano. This is our first participation in 6 years. This festival of design is a source of next generation trends and gathers professionals from all over the world, where we will present the Japanese originality through the exhibition of our products, such as a new series “NUPRI” by Toshiyuki Kita.

NUPRI: a new collection of CONDE HOUSE, exhibited at Galleria Rubin

“NUPRI”, made from trees of the forests of Hokkaido. Its texture, shape, and design concept make you feel “being in nature”.

The inspiration for NUPRI was drawn from the history and severe nature of Hokkaido. That is the beginning of this new collection with a cultural background unique to this region. It was designed by Toshiyuki Kita, a product designer who is well-versed in traditional Japanese craftsmanship and Hokkaido Ainu culture. The designer told us: “As it was designed to represent the connections between nature (trees, namely) and a human body, I named it after the Ainu word for the mountain”.

Designer’s message:
This year is the 50th anniversary since starting my career as a designer. I designed “NUPRI” with an awareness of revival enthusiasm spreading in Japan. Together with various kinds of traditional craftsmanship rooted in each area in Japan, I’d like to make a new approach in releasing something original from Japan to the world.

Toshiyuki Kita
Began designing in Japan and Milano from 1969. Since then, Kita has designed many best-seller products from European and Japanese manufacturers world-wide. Many of his works are selected for permanent collections in world famous museums such as The Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA), Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), etc. He is also very active in revitalizing and promoting local Japanese traditional crafts and industries as well. He is the Director of the international trade fair for home and lifestyle renovation “LIVING & DESIGN” and proponent of Japanese lifestyle renovation, the “RENOVETTA” project. Professor, The Osaka University of Arts. In 2015, his invitational exhibition “Il Lusso Della Natura” was held at Chiesa San Domenico Church in ALBA. Multi-international awards includes the 1990 “Delta de Oro (Gold Prize)” Award of Spain and the prize “carrier internazionale of Compasso d’Oro” of Italy in 2011. In 2016, he served as The International Jury of Compasso d’Oro, Italy. His recent publications include “Power of Design”, “Local Industry + Design”, “Venture for Design”, and many more.
www.toshiyukikita.com

Crust: a product of Japan Creative, exhibited at Palazzo Litta

Japan Creative was founded in 2011 to deliver “a new value of Japanese craftsmanship” to the world by developing products through cooperation of Japanese manufacturers and both local and overseas creators. In the 23rd project with a theme of wood working, Conde House collaborated with Raw-Edges and Jin Kuramoto of R&D (Research & Development), which resulted in a new proposal of stools and tables at the Milan Design Week.

Designers’ message: product concept
Conde House was established to disseminate in Japan an attitude toward design the founder learned in Europe. We looked at this fusion of cultures and took details from their respective design approaches – both characteristic for their rich wood heritage. The result is a collection created with two contrasting wood finishings used on either side of the furniture, celebrating the idea of two different parts joining together in one piece.

Raw-Edges
Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay founded their design studio in London in 2007. The essence of their design lies in colors, patternmaking and movement which are born from the approach full of playfulness and curiosity.
www.raw-edges.com

“Why we chose Conde House as a producer”
The reason why “Asahikawa furniture” is trusted all over the world is not only the power of the natural resources of Hokkaido, but it is the passion of the people. Fostering and inheriting techniques, making use of the state-of-the-art equipment, seeking good design, respecting for the trees – all this passion is unceasing. One of the furniture makers who takes part in building this spirit is Conde House.
www.japancreative.jp

KINA LUX at the Salone del Mobile.Milano (Venue: Rho Fiera Milano)

In addition to the two exhibitions above, the booth of “David Trubridge Ltd.” in Rho Fiera Milano will display “KINA LUX” we launched last year. Enjoy it together with the lamps designed by David Trubridge.

David Trubridge
His design consists of rich life experience, inborn talent, and great knowledge of abstract sculpture and computer design technology. He gained the attention of the world with his environment-oriented design, which leads to many invitations to assemblies and symposiums all over the world where he regularly makes talks on sustainable design.
David Trubridge Ltd.
www.davidtrubridge.com

KINA LUX

Map

1)　Exhibition of “NUPRI” (design by Toshiyuki Kita)
2)　Exhibition of “Crust” (held by Japan Creative, design by Raw-Edges)
3)　Exhibition of “KINA LUX” (design by David Trubridge)
It’s 8 minute walk from 1) Galleria Rubin to 2) Palazzo Litta, and 3) is located at Rho Fiera Milano (outside of the map).