The concept for The Catch Berlin is based on the contrast of hand crafted wooden details, made in the ancient Japanese technique –shou sugi ban – merged together with colourful glass and epoxy design pieces, inspired by Japanese traditions and today’s exaggerated Tokyo sea of neon.

Each wooden plank is different and crafted by experienced masters practicing wabi-sabi (a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection). Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, austerity, modesty, intimacy and an appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes. The Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi includes kintsugi, also known as kintsukuroi (golden repair) – the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery – treating breakage and repair as part of the history of an object.

The boat-shaped light is an example of combining different centuries in one piece. We took inspiration from the wasen – a traditional Japanese boat. Wa means “traditional Japanese thing”, while sen is one of the suffixes meaning boat or ship. The size and silhouette of the feature light reflect the exact prototype of a traditional Japanese fishing boat.

Of course, one can’t forget modern-day Japan in the form of manga-style bright colours and sexuality.