Hamamatsu-shi, Japan
HONOKA.lab aims to highlight the enduring beauty of Japanese craftsmanship while advancing sustainability in product design through its SORI collection that features a knitted structure made of a resin blend that combines recycled tatami materials and biodegradable plastics, offering a unique visual and tactile appeal.
Its transparency and intricate design shift depending on the viewer’s angle, merging traditional aesthetics with contemporary innovation.
For its design qualities, SORI has been awarded a 2024 Prize Designs for Modern Furniture + Lighting Award from The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design and Global Design News.
This initiative is part of HONOKA.lab’s broader effort to create sustainable and innovative furniture.
Other designs in the collection include pieces inspired by traditional Japanese patterns like “Tachiwaki” and “Asanoha,” as well as items like lighting and basins crafted with a mix of recycled and biodegradable materials.
Tatami mats used in Japanese living spaces are made from plants known for their rich aroma and pleasant texture, equipped with capabilities for moisture control and odour reduction.
SORI from “TATAMI ReFAB PROJECT” is knitted furniture created by tatami resin that combines discarded tatami mats, tatami production waste and plant-based biodegradable resin.
The product reconstructs traditional Japanese shapes and materials by 3D printing, and re-embed tatami into modern living culture.
Designers: HONOKA.lab
Lead Designer: Ryo Suzuki
Manufacturer: HONOKA.lab
Photographs: Courtesy of the Designers
