We designed and produced furniture for the Tokyo showroom of “TO,” a brand expanding from skincare into a lifestyle brand.

Inspired by elements such as the “sun,” “moon,” and “heartbeat” motifs of the “TO” brand symbol, the design explores the connection between the macrocosm, encompassing the sun, moon, and stars, and the microcosm of humanity. The goal was to create a space where visitors can experience the brand’s worldview and identity.

Specifically, the focus is on the circulatory structure of blood in the human body. Blood flowing from the left ventricle travels from the body to the brain, while another pathway circulates throughout the body, returning to the right atrium via veins. There is also a circulation from the right ventricle through the lungs and back to the left atrium, among other things. These circulatory structures are metamorphosed and divided into two sculptural circulations. These are then given physical weight, placed on the floor, and shaped into functional fixtures for displaying products.

In Anthroposophical literature, the circulatory structure of blood in the body corresponds to the heart as the sun, the brain as the moon, and the lungs as the earth. In fact, in the macrocosm, there is a circulation of energy from the sun to the moon and from the sun back to the earth, and it is said that these operate with the same circulatory structure as the body. With this in mind, we expressed the correspondence between the macrocosm and the microcosm through “sun,” “moon,” and “heartbeat,” and embodied the brand philosophy of “reflecting on the connection with the universe and beautifying humanity from within” in space.

We hand-carved blocks of Styrofoam to create organic shapes. We reinforced them with FRP to increase strength. Considering the frequent movement between the store and the exhibition venue, we created the FRP molding from Styrofoam. This resulted in furniture that can be easily carried by two adults.

This organic form, resembling a living creature, aligns with the fundamental formative force of life. Unlike superficial material mechanics structures where only straight lines and right angles intersect, here all volumes resonate with each other, acquiring a life-like interconnectedness. This internally organic order evokes a sense of the mystery of life in the viewer and sheds light on the future social order.

Of the two pieces of furniture, one was left in a raw finish. The accumulation of thousands upon thousands of handcrafted details emerges as a pattern after polishing, one of a kind presence. The other piece was finished in shade white, incorporating talc, a natural material.

I first carved out a 1/9 scale model to determine the requirements for the overall shape. When actually creating it, after roughly carving the shape from styrofoam with a hot wire cutter, I immersed myself in shaping it entirely by hand, relying on my senses. This was because I sought essential value not in simply drawing pre-defined lines, but in connecting with a vital principle that could be called an internal organic order, and experiencing that principle through my body while shaping.

The bluish-white color, reminiscent of the lunar surface, is beautifully expressed through a natural finish incorporating talc, a natural material.