The Sail @ Marina Bay

This is a studio apartment renovation project where my company KOUad Kyoto (contemporary craft-related consultant based in Kyoto, Japan) collaborated with the architect and Japanese craftsmen of various traditional trades to re-purpose new uses for diminishing crafts for overseas ID project. In this 500-600sq ft apartment, traditional tatami made by renowned kyoto-based craftsman was applied not only on the floors, but to large sliding cabinet panels and hanging cabinet doors.

Besides tatami, we also worked with Karakami craftsman from Shiga Preferture, Japan to design Art wall dividing screen to separate the bedroom from the living. The initial concept of using the usual marble or stone panel as moveable dividing screen was replaced by a 400year old traditional craft that adorned many temples, machiyas’ fusumas in Japan.

Karakami Art is a woodblock printing technique used to create decorative washi papers using mica powder from sea shell and ancient Japanese pigment powders. It’s a sustainable and durable craft as the colours last for a long time. Only a small handful still practice this craft in Japan. We applied the Karakami craft to moveable art fusuma panels supported by modern top-hung rail system. So it’s both functional and wall-art at the same time, suitable for small spaces.

We seek to revive the popularity of these traditional crafts for overseas market by repurposing them in contemporary forms and concepts.