KAWARA OBJECTS

KAWARA OBJECTS', meaning roof tiles in Japanese, encompass a variety of ceramic pieces developed at the historic workshop of KYOGAWARA Masahisa Asada, renowned for specializing in both tiles and traditional temple ornaments. This project endeavors to translate centuries-old expertise into other interior applications. Kyoto-produced tiles undergo a polishing and smoking process, resulting in a distinctive deep shine akin to metal, referred to as 'KYO-GAWARA'.

Collaborating with craftsmen, these three items were meticulously handcrafted using clay with various press molding and rolling techniques. The table lamp features a hollow cylindrical base with two cutouts to house the light source, covered by a concave shade reminiscent of a roof tile. The wall sconces were inspired by the eye detail of a sculpture found at the workshop, multiplied on a concave sheet of ceramic. Due to the piece's complexity, a three-part plaster mold was developed to ensure its demolding, which the artisan carefully filled in piece by piece, adding two hooks for wall mounting. The final piece, a coffee table, comprises a base composed of four interconnected roof tiles and a flat ceramic disk. 

For the past 12 years, Rui Pereira and Ryosuke Fukusada have collaborated on projects that tap into their respective cultures to engage users in new and unsuspected experiences. The two met in Milan while working at the same studio, where they discovered that, despite their different backgrounds, they share a common vision. In both their practices, the focus is on creating long-lasting products that can pass from generation to generation. When working together, they naturally mix their cultural heritages, explore the full potentialities of materials and manufacturing techniques, and, by making use of a sharp design language, ultimately deliver clear and relevant objects.