A collection of Shigeru Uchida's works that I still cherish even now.
I am always deeply inspired by projects that utilize light.

“The most important thing for Japanese spaces is the relationship with nature.Nature, which changes day by day and moment by moment, is deeply connected to people's hearts.Nature was the standard of all living culture.On the other hand, Therefore, it can be said that the Japanese view of nature itself has determined the design of Japanese spaces.'' (Shigeru Uchida, ``Interior and the Japanese,'' Shobunsha)

Influenced by the works of Shigeru Uchida, the Swiss atelier oï is also interested in Japanese materials, techniques, and aesthetics. Their shapes also feature beautiful changes.

Atelier Oy was founded in La Neuveville, Switzerland in 1991 by Patrick Raymond, Aurel Ebi and Armand Louis. In addition to designing furniture for the "Louis Vuitton Objet Nomade Collection" which was a hot topic at Milano Salone/Milan Design Week in April, he has designed products for Bvlgari, Omega, Rimore, Artemide, etc. In Japan, he is also involved in the Gifu project.

They first encountered Uchida's work about 30 years ago, before Atelier Oy officially started. It all started when I saw Shigeru Uchida's collection of works ``Interiors of Uchida, Mitsuhashi and Studio 80'' (TASCHEN) and was impressed.

Raymond turns around. “Since my student days, I had been exposed to the activities of Issey Miyake and Shiro Kuramata through books, and as I was fascinated by the profound Japanese culture, unique aesthetics, and space, I came across Uchida-san’s collection of works. Uchida-san’s Project Light is always being utilized. I learned a lot. I was also very inspired and even excited by the expressions that are not fixed on a small scale to a large scale."

``Mr. Uchida's works are the very expressions of nature, such as spaces divided by continuous pillars and expressions of fluctuating water.I feel the concept of movement.It is transformation and movement that brings life.Objects are static objects. We tend to think of it as a physical thing, but it actually has a dynamic element within it.”

Atelier Oi begins with Shigeru Uchida's thorough exploration of well-balanced "forms" and their relationships, and develops a story after thoroughly exploring the possibilities of Shigeru Uchida's space and furniture design and materials. Although their design approaches are different, they have in common the fact that they sensitively realize expressions that incorporate movement, which can be called life force.

``We were born in Switzerland and have always been interested in Japanese aesthetics, materials, and technology.It is also interesting that Mr. Uchida's activities center on the essence of Japan, but also include elements of Italian design.'' Raymond says he can't tell you how many times he's picked up Uchida's collection.

That things are always changing and are never the same.
You can create rich situations and rich worlds with the objects you create.

The three members of Atelier Oi first met Shigeru Uchida in 2004 at the ``HANA'' exhibition at Milano Salone/Milan Design Week. The reunion in Japan was in 2014. Atelier Oi, who was invited to participate in a project in Gifu Prefecture, saw first-hand the lighting fixture ``Paper Moon'' designed by Uchida at Asano Shoten, which is known for making lighting fixtures using Mino washi paper. When the three of them moved to Tokyo, the first thing they did was visit the Uchida Design Institute.

"When we introduced our project, Mr. Uchida said, ``You have something in common with my philosophy.'' I replied, ``Mr. Uchida is our maestro.''

Since then, they have deepened their friendship, and an exhibition was held at the gallery supervised by Uchida. On the board marking the business destinations of Uchida Design Institute staff, you can see the humorous notation, ``Patrick: On a business trip to Switzerland.'' Learn about the warm exchanges.

In September 2016, Atelier Oi unveiled "Honminoshi Garden," an installation of mobile objects made from Honminoshi paper at Spiral Garden in Tokyo. The work, which pours from the top of the atrium and ``transforms into a beautiful expression of irregularly sparkling light,'' captivated many people, and Shigeru Uchida was among the visitors. Two months later, he passed away. At the venue of the farewell party, the ``Honminoshi Garden'' floated quietly and gently.

Raymond's favorite book is Junichiro Tanizaki's ``In Praise of Shadows.'' In this book, Tanizaki touched upon the Eastern aesthetic sense of ``creating beauty by creating shadows in ordinary places.'' He said, ``I believe that beauty does not lie in objects, but in the light and dark, the shadows and shadows created between objects.''

The situation in which rich beauty is created by valuing a sense of beauty as delicate as the rays of light exists, transcending generational and cultural differences between Shigeru Uchida and Atelier Oi, and is being realized as modern design. Reconsider the real pleasure of being here. Through encounters with various people, you will experience the joy of exploring the essence of culture that lives through the ages.

``The project with the Uchida Design Institute at Enso Ango is important because it allows us to combine our respective visions,'' says Raymond. This gives it a pleasant charm that is transmitted to us.

(Titles omitted)

Shigeru Uchida

interior designer

Born in 1943. Established Uchida Design Office (currently Uchida Design Institute in 1970) in 2005 and Studio 1981 in 80. His representative works include Yoji Yamamoto's boutique, the Kobe Fashion Museum, the tea room "Usoan Gyoan," and the interior space of Crest Tower. He also worked on the comprehensive design of hotels such as Hotel Il Palazzo, Mojiko Hotel, Kyoto Hotel Lobby, Oriental Hotel Hiroshima, The Gate Hotel Kaminarimon, and Sapporo Grand Hotel. He has won the Mainichi Design Award and the Minister of Education Award for Art Encouragement. In 2007, he became the first interior designer to receive the Medal with Purple Ribbon. He is the director of Kuwasawa Design Institute, a professional school (2008-2011). Passed away in 2016. Author of many books, including ``Interiors and the Japanese'' (Shobunsha), ``Tea Rooms and Interiors'' (Kousakusha), ``Ordinary Design'' (Kousakusha), and ``History of Postwar Japanese Design'' (Misuzu Shobo). Permanent collections of his work include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Denver Art Museum, the Conran Foundation, and the M+ Museum.

Atelier Oi　atelier oï

architecture/design studio

In 1991, Patrick Raymond, Aurel Ebi, and Armand Louis started their activities in La Neuveville, Switzerland, which is rich in nature. Our design activities are based on a thorough investigation of materials, and we have created furniture for the Louis Vuitton Objet Nomad Collection, B&B Italia, Artemide, Foscarini, Desart, USM, Bvlgari, Rimore, and many others. Works on product design, architectural design, and scinography for brands. He was also responsible for part of the interior design of the Nicolas G. Hayek Center in Ginza, which was designed by Shigeru Ban. Collaborative projects with Gifu Prefecture include furniture with Hida Sangyo, lighting equipment with Ozeki, Japanese swords with XNUMXth Fujiwara Kanefusa and Hasegawa Hamono, and Miyama.HosenCeramics made with the Kobei kilnannounced. In 2018, a large-scale solo exhibition will be held at the Zurich Design Museum. His collection of works ``atelieroï: How Life Unfolds'' (Lars Müller Publishers) was published in 2018.

→Click here for the sensitivity that connects Shigeru Uchida and Atelier Oi (Part 1)