Silver Furniture Design · 2023
Seven Wind Chime
by So Koizumi
- A' Design Award 2023 Silver Winner in Furniture Design
- Awarded April 15, 2023
- CLIENT: So Koizumi Design
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 29,772
- Verification code B795453822 · Verify this award
About Seven Wind Chime
Seven is a wind chime with a new structure utilizing Tensegrity structure. In the unstable social climate of recent years, people are constantly moving between stability and anxiety. The Tensegrity structure is the structure that embodies current society. It appears to be floating and stable, but external forces such as wind cause it to sway in order to maintain equilibrium. By converting this swaying into sound, it resonates through space and adds healing and color to daily life.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Seven is a wind chime with a new structure utilizing tensegrity structure.
In the unstable social climate of recent years, people are constantly moving between stability and anxiety.
The tensegrity structure is the structure that embodies current society.
it appears to be floating and stable, but external forces such as wind cause it to sway in order to maintain equilibrium.
By converting this swaying into sound, it resonates through space and adds healing and color to daily life. - Dimensions & Packaging
- Width:195φ
Height:215mm - Tags
- wind chime, tensegrity, Between Stability and Anxiety, brass
- Production Technology
- All parts of "Seven" are made of brass, and they are exquisitely balanced.
To maintain the balance, a high level of precision was required.
Therefore, the product was manufactured in Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, which is famous for its metalworking.
One of the characteristics of Takaoka's manufacturing is the division of labor.
The production of this product was made possible by the concentration of the technical capabilities of specialists in various fields
such as casting, bending, and welding, including SANOMASA factory, which took overall command of the production this time. - Design Challenge
- One is the study that led to this modeling.
The other is that this wind chime stands on its own with a very delicate balance, so precise technical skill was required for every component. - Project Duration
- The project started in September 2021 and completed in August 2022.
- Operation Flow
- Although the tensegrity structure makes it appear to be stable while floating, external forces such as wind cause it to sway in order to maintain equilibrium.
By converting this swaying into sound, the sound resonates through the space and adds healing and color to daily life. - Research
- First, we looked at everyday situations and clarified concepts from daily observations.
Next, we researched the tensegrity structure that embodied this concept and deepened our understanding through repeated experiments.
Then, he examined hundreds of times the shape of the form that would allow it to function as a wind chime.
Finally, we searched for a company that could accurately manufacture the design, deepened close communication, and completed the project over time. - Inspiration
- This project started as part of an independent project under the theme of "Between stability and anxiety. In the unstable social
climate of recent years, people and society are constantly moving between stability and anxiety.
I believe that the tensegrity structure is a structure that hovers between stability and anxiety, embodying contemporary society, and that there is something. - Image Credits
- So Koizumi
Colors of Seven Wind Chime
Get Seven Wind Chime
Multidisciplinary Design Studio for Objects, Products and Spaces
We transform concepts into tangible experiences through thoughtful design across furniture, objects, products and spatial environments. Our Tokyo-based studio, recognized with the prestigious A' Design Award, brings philosophical depth and experimental rigor to every project, creating forms that…
G0E23 ShopDesign Interview about Seven Wind Chime
In the unstable social situation of recent years, people and society are constantly moving back and forth between stability and anxiety, living in a state of drifting between joy and sorrow, and the theme was "between stability and anxiety". The tensegrity structure is a structure that wanders between stability and instability, just as it embodies today's society, and we believe that there is something in between that moves people's emotions.
One is that it is a wind chime with a new structure, so I had to sublimate it into a form that was unique to me.
The other is that this wind chime stands on its own with a very delicate balance, so every component required precise technical skills.
The other is that this wind chime stands on its own with a very delicate balance, so every component required precise technical skills.
I would like to exhibit first in Tokyo and then abroad.
The concept is something that has come naturally to me over the last couple of years of my life.
This was not commissioned, but part of an independent production.
The production was carried out in Takaoka, Toyama, Japan, a city famous for its metalworking. It could not have been completed without their technical expertise.
The concept was born out of daily life and the idea of a wind chime with a tensegrity structure was conceived to realise it.
There are works in the world that use tensegrity structures, but this is about incorporating the features of tensegrity structures into the function of a wind chime and sublimating them into a form like a work of art.
The first is that it makes use of a tensegrity structure, which, when viewed from the side, is shaped like a combination of "7". The second is named after the division of labour in Takaoka, with a total of seven factories and their craftsmen producing the product.
3D software and craftsmanship.
It is the incorporation of the features of the tensegrity structure into the function of a wind chime and its sublimation into a form like a work of art.
It was produced by craftsmen in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture, Japan, which is famous for metalworking.
In the case of this work, the research is in the discoveries of everyday life.
Because the structure of the wind chime was unprecedented, design and experimentation were repeated.
There were some problems in the actual production, but it was the technical skills of the craftsmen in Takaoka that led us to a solution.
There were some problems in the actual production, but it was the technical skills of the craftsmen in Takaoka that led us to a solution.
I was interested to see how people in Japan and around the world would rate it.
It is about persevering to the end and not giving up, paying attention to subtleties and communicating with the craftspeople.
Grand Interview about Seven Wind Chime
The concept itself remained consistent from the initial stages through to completion.In the early stages of planning, I was not using a tensegrity structure and was wondering if I could express the emotions I felt in response to the social context at the time.When I discovered that a tensegrity structure could materialize these emotions, the concept was solidified, and the project began.
This wind chime would not have been completed without their technical expertise.I believe it is a design made possible because I trusted their delicate craftsmanship and experience.
It all began when I realized, while creating a model of the tensegrity structure, that it generated more "sway" than I had expected.When I wondered if I could transform this seemingly unstable "sway" into something positive, the idea of a wind chime came to mind.
The process of designing the shape while maintaining functionality was the most challenging part. I believe I went through about 300 design iterations.In the end, the final design was the simplest and best expressed the qualities of the tensegrity structure.
The beginning of the project was sparked by my daily emotions.Later, when I encountered the tensegrity structure, the concept was fully realized.
When I visit the factory, it becomes clear that they possess an immense wealth of knowledge, making conversations with them incredibly valuable to me.I believe that the accumulation of communication with them ultimately enhances the quality of the final design.
Achieving a pleasant tone was the most challenging task during the process of refining the prototype after its completion.By incorporating my own ideas and listening to the craftspeople's opinions, I was able to find a solution.
What I discovered during the process was that simplicity best highlights the qualities of the tensegrity structure.By repeatedly revisiting initial ideas and exploring new ones, I was able to create a design that I could fully embrace.
It is a great honor to have received the A' Design Award.With the confidence gained from this recognition, I will continue to strive and work hard moving forward.
I believe this is still a field full of potential, and I hope that this wind chime can inspire others and lead to designs that spark creativity in them.