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BUYLINE
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Shibuya’s Zenmall (29-4 Udagawacho, Shibuya-ku; 03-3770-1641), known for offering large clothing for men, is holding a two-day Early Bird Pre-Summer Sale. The sale will take place on the mornings of April 12 (Sat) and 13 (Sun) for three hours (9am-noon) each day. During these times, nearly everything will be marked 20-80 percent off. Some of the bargains include suits with a spare pair of pants for \9,800 (sizes 3-8L), and summer casual jackets for \8,000 (3-6L). Imported designer suits by makers like Calvin Klein and Boss are also marked down to \39,000 and \59,000, respectively. Those who spend over \10,000 can take part in the Cash Grabbing Contest, where shoppers can dig into a box full of cash. Spend over \30,000 for two chances to grab, and \50,000 for three. Don't miss this rare opportunity, as it could be one of the few chances for those looking to buy large sizes in Japan, especially at affordable prices.
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By
Trina O’Hara-Thawley
Flights of Fancy
Artist Eva Menz takes on some light construction work
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photos
Courtesy of Eva Menz
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Alfred Hitchcock would be proud to own one of these lighting
sculptures. Thousands of birds hovering overhead, circling
a bulb like moths to a flame. These atmospheric and exquisitely
crafted origami chandeliers are the work of international
designer Eva Menz. German-born and London-based, Eva is fluent
in four languages. Since graduating with a degree in product
design from Central Saint Martins College in London, she has
been busy testing one Japanese truism: The artisan who folds
1,000 paper cranes shall be granted one wish.
Eva’s unique works are painstakingly assembled using
white silk paper. She also creates very large bespoke pieces
for interior designing or public art installations. Her latest
proposal for Lufthansa in their new air terminal in Munich
is a string of giant yellow origami cranes to be hung high
above the check-in counter. The crane is a symbol of peace
and goodwill, so it seems fitting in today’s climate
of international travel warnings and extra security measures
that Eva’s designs take pride of place.
Eva’s origami lighting and public art installations are
made to order; prices start from ¥154,000-¥287,000
depending on size, shape and color.
For further inquiries email info@evamenz.com
or go to Eva’s website at www.evamenz.com
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Catch of the Day
Macramé meets high-tech when Wanders plays the strings
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| photos Courtesy of Droog
Design/Robbie Kavanagh |
Any urban goddess may want to plop herself down on this stringy
number, yet it took an amazing amount of technology to get
her there. Imagine you are a chair designer. Step one, take
a floppy fishing net. Step two, get it to stand upright. Step
three, make it support your body weight. Now you have some
idea of the design problems facing Dutch design guru Marcel
Wanders of Droog Design.
The not-so-classic look of the “knotted chair” rescues
traditional macramé techniques from the stuffy image
it has had since the ’60s, by linking it with the latest
in industrial materials. The chair’s carbon-centered
rope is knotted into the shape of a chair, impregnated with
epoxy and hung in a frame to harden; gravity then does the
rest.With its ingenious use of materials and technology, the
knotted chair is one of those products that’s far ahead
of its time.
Available at hhstyle in Harajuku
(6-14-2 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Tel: 03-3400-3434. Open noon–8pm),
or the new hhstyle store in Aoyama (NTT Aoyama Building, 2-7-15
Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-5772-1112. Open 11am-8pm).
It is priced at ¥236,250 and is also available online
at www.hhstyle.com
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Light Source
At Louis Poulsen they highlight the design classics
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Trina
O’Hara-Thawley
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If you are wary of fashion statements and searching for exceptional
lighting fixtures then the Louis Poulsen showroom in Roppongi
is a surefire treat. Unlike your typical showroom, the store
is more like an art gallery of design classics. (It’s
on par with viewing the design objects at the Museum of Modern
Art).
For more than seventy years, Louis Poulsen has collaborated
with visionary architects and designers to produce innovative
lighting solutions for interiors and exteriors. Many of their
products have become “works of art” or “classics”
not only for their design or creator, but also due to their
unique and unusual light control. Take for example the “Artichoke”
lamp (see photo) by Poul Henningsen, where he cleverly uses
tiers of overlapping shades to direct light in different directions
without ever revealing the bulb.
In close cooperation with architects and designers, Louis
Poulsen has developed a flexible and innovative custom design
department too. Many of the department’s products started
off as “wild ideas,” becoming actual fixtures later
on. At Poulsen you can tell they’re excited about experimenting
with the latest possibilities in lighting technology and production
techniques, and manager Yoshihiko Higuchi and his staff are
only too happy to help architects, designers and homeowners
make the right technical and design decisions.
Louis Pousen Japan, AXIS Building
3F, 5-17-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku. Tel: 03-3586-5341, Fax: 03-3586-0478.
www.louis-poulsen.com
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Would you like to comment on this article? Send a letter
to the editor at letters@metropolis.co.jp.
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