Interviste con Tomohiro Horibe

Based on Tape measure shape, but key design is oblong. top view, and holes on belt are oblong which is inspired by I-phone 5 bottom form. No edge, not sharp, no screw on surface, just simple.

In Japan, when it rain outside, or winter time, we prefer to dry clothes inside room after washing rather than by using laundry dryer, in order to prevent from shrinking clothes, and save electric energy. However, dry clothes inside room occupies space. I tried to make it small as much as possible and just simple to assimilate on the wall when it installed. Compact, but very useful product I wanted.

I would like to promote this result to Japanese market, and if possible, I would like to export this products to the other countries.

Almost 1 year.

Actually, my supplier had basic ideas, but first trial sample designed by them was not good. Then, I offered to design by myself.

This product is manufactured by supplier based on my design, not by myself. I cannot make any product because I have not production line, but I am selling this product as our original design products.

Indoor clothes dry products selling by other companies are not good design at all for me, destroying interior design. So I would like to solve these problem. That is my biggest motivation of this work.

I-phone. I-phone shape and form are really good for me. And compact body, but very useful for us. It gives me a lot of ideas.

I would say target is housewife. Main person who use washing machine and dry clothes. However, person living alone is also the target of this product.

Holes on the belt. It is simple idea, but breakthrough idea. Holes are to keep each hanger and not shifted. We even do not need to use clothespins.

"Brooklyn" means catenary curve. When it load many clothes on max 4 m length belt, the belt bends like a catenary curve.The Brooklyn bridge which is the most beautiful building with a catenary curve, so I took this name. "Laundreel" is Laundry + reel, my original word.

I only use pencil and paper, my staff made CAD drawings.

2 way use. Rotary body + 2 hooks allow 2 way use in 1 room. For example, case 1 is 4 m length and dry clothes a lot. Case 2 is 1 m length at the corner of room and keep Jacket, coat, like open closet.

Mr. GOTO who is supplier guys. I designed this product based on his original ideas.

Save electric energy. Daily use product, but not destroy interior design.

Other product max load weight was 8 kg. So we tried to maximize this load weight. This product max load is 15 kg, however nobody measure clothes weight each time, so we produced 45 kg possible one that is 3 times load. We passed several test at official test facility.

Select belt material. Have to be strong enough, have to be clean. we tested many materials. Then, we found the belt that is used as belt conveyor of food factory. It is very strong, and Antibacterial and Antifungal processing material.

Actually I did not know A' design award, but I have got the letter of recommendation.

If I am not satisfied, even small issue or detail, Do not compromise.

以下のようにアカデミックなインタビュー回答に適した英語に翻訳しました。論理的でフォーマルな表現に整えています。

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After graduating from the Department of Architecture at Tokyo Metropolitan University, I began my career at Mitsui Construction Co., Ltd., a first-section listed company on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, where I spent five years engaged in the design of condominium projects.

Subsequently, I joined RC Core Co., Ltd., Japan’s leading log-house company with the number-one market share, where I worked in the product development division for eight years.

Through this career path, I was able to experience the two extremes of residential architecture in the Japanese market—ranging from condominiums to log cabins— which has provided me with a broad and multifaceted perspective on architectural design.

I was deeply captivated by architecture, and through my work in architectural design, my interests gradually expanded toward the very elements that shape the built environment—such as construction materials, furniture, interior design, and finishing materials.

I believe that by pursuing my passions, curiosity, spirit of inquiry, and ambition to their fullest, I ultimately found my way to the field of design, with a particular focus on architecture and product development.

I am particularly interested in raw materials that are non-chemical in nature, such as recycled and upcycled resources, natural materials, and solid wood.

My work focuses on transforming discarded elements—such as offcuts and waste materials—into new value through the power of design.

I seek to create and utilize products that embody the origins, context, and narrative of the material itself, resulting in designs that carry a compelling story.

do not consider myself an exceptional designer; however, I firmly believe that design can serve as a means to address the challenges people face in everyday life.

By repeatedly engaging in the process of shaping solutions through my own methodology, I believe that a unique personal style will naturally emerge over time.

I believe that truly excellent design is not defined by temporary trends, but by creations that can be cherished for a long time.

I also consider a design to be outstanding if it compels people to share it with others.

I believe that the essence of design lies in an iterative process of prototyping, in which functions are tested and experienced firsthand, then continuously refined.

A commitment to never compromising, even on the smallest details, allows for millimeter-level adjustments that ultimately generate a form of appeal that cannot be captured by numerical values alone.

Truly outstanding design enriches our daily lives, offering both convenience and emotional fulfillment.

Objects that serve only a functional purpose, no matter how convenient, cannot satisfy the heart.

I aspire to engage not only with individual components or buildings, but with larger-scale endeavors—such as area development, landscape design, and urban planning—projects that carry broader influence and meaningful social impact.

I studied architecture at university and got a job as a designer at a general contractor. Even back then, I was interested in manufacturing as a designer.

My company is called Time & Garden, and we sell original design building materials under the brand name Material World.

Design is a unique way to differentiate yourself from others, a means to solve problems, and an important thing that satisfies people's hearts.

I am interested in product design, which involves recycling or upcycling things that have previously been thrown away or not been put to good use, to create something new.

It is my latest design, a wall material made from scrap wood from furniture and joinery factories. It is a thin, delicate and beautiful French herringbone style panel unit that can be easily installed.

Switch & plug outlet cover plate, it’s called’Tokyo Jacket’. It has 2 layers Acrylic and Aluminum.

Teakwood, especially recycled Teakwood.

I've never been particularly conscious of it, but sometimes an idea that I've been thinking about and worrying about for a long time suddenly takes shape.

Being attractive while being easy to install (functional)

I would like to create something new, something interesting, something different from others. I would say it’s Inquisitive.

Like or dislike, difficult to explain.

AI would create almost everything in the future. Each designer has to have their own identity which is not copied easily by AI. However it should not be selfish .

Interiorlifestyle-tokyo 2024. We have not fixed next yet.

Almost everything in my daily life. Movies, magazines, fashion, food, photography, packaging, etc..

Only one, unique, something new, interesting.

I live in Japan near Tokyo. My office is in Tokyo. Japanese customers are the most picky people in the world. Quality should be perfect always. It’s teaching me to think about not only just design but also how to make it. Also Japanese houses are so small, it should be compact and easy to install.

However, it’s sometimes to much, it makes more rejection material.

Time & Garden is my company, so nothing special issues.

No idea. Feeling, Inspiration, sense, …

I travel often, and getting inspiration and feeling different atmospheres, and I could get so many ideas.

My car, dining table, Sofa, chairs, bicycle

Nothing special.

Decide on a theme for the day and then go out, shape, color, materials, etc..

For example, if you decide today’s theme is ‘blue’, you should carefully check blue.

You should check every blue items or prints or fashion, even food and so on.

Then, you will realize it more deeply.

AI will be more powerful and stronger than us. However AI could not copy everything. One of impossible AI can’t copy is our design process. Not only finish product, we had better to open our design process or story as our advantage.

Difficult question, maybe Aesthetic sense and sensibility are important.

Taking pictures a lot. Then sorting by material, colors, items, etc..

Just like Pinterest.

Always struggling with this issue, not find best way…

It depends. Just few months, or few years.

Architects, Designers, contractor, house builders, developers.

Using recycled materials or waist material products.

Not only in Japan, but also in other countries I would like to do business.

Basically by myself.

Contact by email, info@materialworld.jp

Japanese homes are generally small, with limited balcony or veranda space. Additionally, in urban areas, factors such as air pollution, yellow dust, pollen allergies, privacy concerns, and changes in lifestyle—such as the increase in dual-income households where no one is home during the day—make it difficult to dry laundry outside during the daytime.As a result, drying laundry indoors has become more common; however, there were no smart solutions available, making it a recognized pain point in daily life.While clothes dryers do exist in Japan, they are not used frequently due to high electricity costs, as well as concerns about shrinkage and damage to clothing.That is why I took on the challenge of developing this product.

When setting the belt length, our top priority was ensuring that it could be used across the longer side of a standard 8-tatami Japanese room, which measures 3.6 meters (two ken).After achieving this, we wanted to ensure that when not in use, the device would not disrupt the aesthetics of the indoor space. This was crucial because, as previously mentioned, Japanese homes typically do not have a dedicated laundry room, making it common to dry laundry in the living room or bedroom.

As an architect and designer, I often face conflicts between creating aesthetically pleasing spaces and integrating structural or equipment-related elements. Equipment such as lighting, switches, outlets, air conditioning units, detectors, and access panels can disrupt the design of a space. Ideally, both designers and residents prefer to minimize the visibility of such elements.People want to live comfortably in small spaces without having conspicuous equipment disrupting the aesthetics. Understanding this contradiction deeply, I aimed to create a product that successfully balances functionality and design.

When drying laundry on the belt, hangers are not always used. Items like towels are often draped directly over it. This means the belt's surface is prone to getting dirty or even developing mold due to dampness.Since no one wants to hang freshly washed laundry on a moldy belt, we sought a material with antibacterial and antifungal properties. During our search, we discovered that conveyor belts used in food processing plants had these exact characteristics. In addition to being antibacterial and antifungal, these belts also offered superior strength and durability, making them a highly reliable choice. The HACCP certification further reinforced our confidence in this material, ensuring both safety and credibility for our product.

The inspiration for this product’s design came from Apple’s iPhone. We were drawn to the iPhone’s sleek design, free of protruding parts or visible screws, and aimed to apply a similar approach.However, securing the outer casing still required screws, which led to the need for a cover. Instead of using a standard cover, we decided to integrate a magnet, allowing it to serve both as a cover and as a functional element that keeps the unit neatly stored when not in use.Additionally, the product’s top-down profile closely resembles the shape of an iPhone’s side power button.

Internally, the unit features a robust aluminum die-cast drum. While the exterior is made of plastic, the core of the product is composed of high-strength components. Additionally, the belt material itself is highly durable.Although we officially specify a weight limit of 15 kg, our testing has shown that the belt can withstand up to 45 kg in load-bearing and tensile strength tests. This ensures that users do not have to worry about weight limits when drying laundry. We also considered scenarios where users might hang heavier items, such as bedding.Since the belt is extended and retracted daily, the retraction mechanism is a critical component. We conducted extensive durability testing, performing tens of thousands of retraction cycles. To ensure long-lasting performance, we chose the same spring mechanism used in automobile seat belts, as these undergo rigorous durability requirements.

An 8-tatami room measures 3.6m × 3.6m. As previously mentioned, the maximum belt length of 4.0m was set to allow usage across the full span of such a room.Another important consideration was the variability in room layouts—differences in window placements, door positions, and furniture arrangements. To ensure adaptability, we designed the product to be usable in multiple orientations. By allowing a 180-degree rotation, it can be mounted in any direction.Additionally, we included two belt hooks to offer two possible drying directions. This allows users to extend the belt either fully across the room or only partially when drying smaller loads. Since Japanese homes are compact and people remain in the room while drying laundry, space efficiency is crucial.

Despite being a niche product born out of the unique constraints of Japanese housing, it was a great honor to receive a Gold Award for its design excellence. This recognition reassures us that even highly specialized ideas can be appreciated internationally and serves as motivation for future design endeavors.

Since this product is designed to dry freshly washed laundry, maintaining its cleanliness is paramount. Antibacterial and antifungal processing was chosen to ensure this. Additionally, the product is white, making any dirt or stains immediately visible, encouraging users to keep it clean.We sometimes receive requests for black-colored versions, but we decline these as dirt would be less visible, compromising hygiene maintenance.

While new energy-powered drying technologies may emerge, the demand for natural air drying without energy consumption will remain. In small living spaces with many constraints, innovation thrives. We hope the Brooklyn Laundreel design process will serve as an inspiration for future product developments.