With its versatile color variations and customizable options, the Kawara Armchair effortlessly adapts to a wide range of spaces. Drawing inspiration from the advanced manufacturing technologies and creative expertise of one of Japan’s most renowned plywood manufacturers, Ronan Bouroullec has harnessed the potential of plywood to create elegant forms reminiscent of flowing textiles.
The Kawara Armchair showcases the remarkable freedom of plywood, shaping it into soft and graceful curves. The design is anchored by four simple cylindrical wooden legs, from which two delicately curved wooden sheets extend to form the backrest and armrests. This innovative approach introduces a fresh design typology, characterized by its seamless interplay of materials.
What sets this chair apart is the intricate connection between its components. Its expression stems entirely from this interplay: four wooden cylinders and four molded plywood elements converging in perfect harmony. As Ronan explains, “It is very formal in a certain way, but it’s not boring—probably because of the detailing at the connections, where the wooden cylinders and plywood elements come together, giving it a very flowing design.”