In Element Designs is a Japanese-Canadian multidisciplinary studio for handcrafted unique furniture and art from Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada) — founded in 2003 by the husband-and-wife team Seiji Kuwabara and Himali Kuwabara. Seiji Kuwabara — born in Japan, based in British Columbia since 1991, entirely self-taught as a wood furniture designer and sculptor — has developed over 200 original furniture designs and 50 lighting pieces for local and international clients since 1996. His work has been shipped to Ireland, New York, London and Singapore. 2020: ENN collection on the Dezeen Awards longlist (furniture category). Himali Kuwabara — born in Japan, moved to Vancouver at 16, training in fashion, theatre and business entrepreneurship — is Art Director, concept artist, brand voice and client bridge. Shared design philosophy: fusion of Japanese and Western design influences, minimalism, Zen, sustainability, artisanal integrity; realised exclusively in limited quantities and bespoke production.
Design techniques: CNC machining for standard work, handcraft for details and bespoke pieces; Yakisugi — Japanese charring technique that brings out the natural wood grain and reveals the inner beauty of the material. Materials: sustainable quality woods (white oak, walnut, red cedar, mahogany and others); natural oil and wax finish; glass (tempered glass for table tops). Signature products: ENN — multifunctional unit from oak wood, inspired by a clothes stand; ENN means circle in Japanese; three table tops and legs each rotate 360° and can be secured or folded for storage and shipping; Ko — dining table from walnut and tempered glass; Deep Forest Jewelry — accessory/jewellery line from offcuts of the furniture projects. Product categories: tables (dining, coffee, lounge), benches, storage furniture, sculptures, lighting.
For architects and interior designers seeking for residential, collectible design and art interior projects a Japanese-Canadian atelier active since 2003 in Vancouver that under the self-taught Japanese wood artist and sculptor Seiji Kuwabara and Art Director Himali Kuwabara from the fusion of Japanese design aesthetics (minimalism, Zen, Yakisugi charring technique) and Western formal language exclusively produces numbered individual pieces and bespoke productions in micro-series from sustainable woods, and with the ENN collection (Dezeen Awards Longlist 2020) documents international design recognition — Seiji Kuwabara has developed in Vancouver from the Yakisugi technique and the circle concept ENN a design identity: white oak and walnut, rotating table tops, jewellery from furniture offcuts — and Himali Kuwabara as Art Director and brand voice between Tokyo and Vancouver.