© Ikunori Yamamoto
Japanese studio h220430 creates quirky design pieces specialising in furniture and lighting. Based in Tokyo, one of the studio’s latest product is the Balloon Chair inspired in the protagonist of 1950s film Le Ballon Rouge
Balloon Chair and Bench technical Information
- Designer : Studio h220430
- Materials : Seat – FRP, Leather, Steel, Urethane, Balloon – FRP, Cord
- Dimensions Chair : W1500×D750×H3000
- Dimensions Bench : W:1050×D:400×H:FREE×SH:FREE
- Manufacturer : Schwarzwald Stool is sold by Gallery SOMEWHERE
- Project Year : 2014
- Photographer : Ikunori Yamamoto
I believe that design is one of useful methods to solve many problems that modern society has; environmental issues, disparity in wealth.
– Satoshi Itasaka
Ballon Chair and Bench Gallery
The chair aims to recreate the feeling that Pascal, the protagonist of 1950s film Le Ballon Rouge, has when a cluster of balloons carried him over Paris, rescuing him from a group of bullies.
Whereas the bench was suspended from four anchor points in a ceiling to maintain the illusion of flight, the chair fixes to a wall. The leather-covered seat is made from fibre-reinforced plastic, steel and urethane, while the balloons are made from fibre-reinforced plastic and cord, meaning they cannot be deflated.
Other designs feature a chair and lamp hanging on balloons, a light resembling the sunrise as well as a chair covered in ivy-like materials. In a statement about how they approach design, the studio says: “I believe that design is one of useful methods to solve many problems that modern society has; environmental issues, disparity in wealth.”
About Studio h220430
h220430 established on April 30th, Heisei 22 (Heisei is the current era name in japan). Their design activities focus on lighting and furniture, etc. “We want to design not just primary shape of the things but secondary communication deriving from the messages in the things. We hope our works will produce communication and provide an opportunity for people to rethink and act against many difficult problems such as deterioration of the global environment and continuous conflicts all over the world.”
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