Japanese architect Kengo Kuma designed a pair of Christmas trees made from different components that will become furniture at the Edition Hotels in Toranomon and Ginza, Tokyo. The trees are made from timber components, which have been arranged to form a traditional Christmas tree. Once the holiday season ends, the trees will be disassembled and converted into furniture by Japanese wooden furniture manufacturer Karimoko.
“I designed the Christmas tree as an architectural structure for this project,” said Kuma. “The trees have a story of their own assembly; even after it is finished, they will live forever. In this sense, I realized the ideal way of architecture in the future through the Christmas tree.”
Designer: Kengo Kuma
The first tree is called Kigumi and will be situated in the lobby of the Tokyo Edition, Toranomon Hotel. The hotel was also designed by Kuma. The tree is made using linear timber pieces, made from six types of wood – oak, magnolia, castor aralia, Japanese walnut, Japanese maple, and North American walnut. These woods are paired with silver and bronze metallic finishes. The elements will be utilized as table legs once the tree is disassembled.
The second tree is called Komorebi, and it is placed in the lobby bar of the Tokyo Edition, Ginza. The tree is made from rounded elements that have been built from oak, castor aralia, Japanese walnut, Japanese maple, and magnolia. The different elements have been made from curved timber. The elements will be converted into table tops and hollow pieces of legs for a desk.
“This project of reusing the wood used for the event as furniture is very attractive because it aligns with what we cherish daily,” said Karimoku board director Eiichiro Kato. “We hope that by purchasing the table, you will be able to enjoy the variety of the wood used in the table and feel the charm of the wood and the individuality of the forests we benefit from through our daily lives.”
