Hopper Noho by Takashi Niwa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2022 A' Design Award Keleawe in Hoʻolālā Lako Hale Competition Category.

KeleaweLako Hale· 2022

Hopper Noho

by Takashi Niwa

Client: Takashi Niwa

A' Design Award Keleawe Winner in Lako Hale Category

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Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #137986

View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Hopper Noho

He noho lāʻau ʻo Hopper i hoʻolālāʻia no ka noho maluhia. Kākoʻo ke ʻano lālani piʻopiʻo pālua me kahi ʻano kūikawā i ka ʻoluʻolu a hāʻawi i ke noho i kahi ʻano ʻoni. Ua hōʻolokoloko ʻia ʻekolu kihi o ke ʻano lālani ma nā wahi e hoʻopā ai ke kino i ka noho, a e waiho ʻia kekahi kihi ʻoi e hōʻike i ke ʻano piha. Loli ke kihi hoʻomaha i mau lima kāko'o a me nā kua paʻa palupalu. Hoʻohui nā papa hoʻomaha a kāko'o i ka māmā a me ka paʻa hoʻokumu. Ua hana ʻia nā ʻāpana me ka mīkini CNC ʻelima axis a laila hui ʻia me ka lima.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Keleawe

Ua lanakila ka hoʻolālā Hopper Noho i ka A' Design Award Keleawe, he ʻike hoʻohanohano nui loa i hāʻawi ʻia i nā hoʻolālā kūʻokoʻa i ʻike ʻia ma o ka hana noʻeau, ka akamai a me ka makakoho. He mau hana mākaukau a hana noʻeau kupaianaha nā lanakila Keleawe e hōʻoia ana i ka ʻike nui, ka noʻonoʻo a me ka maʻalea o kā lākou poʻe hoʻolālā. Manaʻo ʻia ʻo ka hoʻolālā Hopper Noho he mea i mahalo nui ʻia, hoʻohiwahiwa ʻia a aloha ʻia, he ʻoihana a hou loa. ʻO kēia hoʻolālā i lanakila i ka A' Design Award Keleawe e hoʻohui ana i nā hana maikaʻi loa o ka hana noʻeau, ka ʻepekema, ka hoʻolālā a me ka ʻenehana, a maikaʻi no kona nānā ʻana i nā kikoʻī. Hoʻokō maikaʻi ka hoʻolālā Hopper Noho i nā pono, hoʻopā i ka makemake, hoʻohiwahiwa i nā manaʻo a huki i ka makemake e ʻike.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: The double curved wood frame with customized profile ensures comfort while also enhancing the dynamic form of the chair. The profile has its three corners filletted where the body is in contact with the chair. On the other hand, one strong edge still remains to highlight the overall gesture and appears with higher contrast under the lighting effect.
Dimensions & Packaging: 550 x 645 x 800
Tags: furniture, chair, ergonomic, wood
Production Technology: With high quality requirement and subtle details, the chair’s parts were made using 5 axis CNC for finishing accuration. A technician with 20 years of experience in craftsmanship then worked to assemble these parts and details together.
Design Challenge: It was a challenge to ensure structure and rigidity with the chair’s significant curves and incline without losing the purity of the form. Various testing took place to study different relationships between front legs and back legs’ curve and angle. Supporting structural frames and joints were then added underneath the seat to ensure stability.
Research: Throughout the design process, there were many studies on the overall form to reveal strong gestures with simplicity. After multiple iterations of the leg and frame profile, a scale model was 3d printed for mock up before sending the final design to the factory.
Inspiration: Hopper Chair with its reclined ergonomics invites the users to sit back and relax. The signature double curves form an energizing and friendly gesture, which recalls a joyful spirit of hopping. When not in use, Hopper Chair is still a spark of joy in the space.
Project Duration: The project was designed in Hanoi, Vietnam in May 2021 and finished in Binh Duong, Vietnam in February 2022
Operation Flow: With a welcoming gesture, Hopper Chair offers its user to relax with comfort. The reclined angle with a smooth curve turns into pleasant armrests and backrests. The double curved frame is designed to give light and open feelings with resting and support panels, which also enhance structural stability.
Team Members: Takashi Niwa
Image Credits: Naoto Ohike