Gaby
34-year-old Yuma Kano from Tokyo, the creative director of the design studio Yumakano, is crafting exclusive wooden furniture while simultaneously protecting forests from deforestation.
The designer has a deep love for wood, which he considers an invaluable natural material. However, obtaining it often requires cutting down trees, which contradicts the global environmental trend of forest conservation. Ultimately, Yuma devised a way to avoid deforestation while still having access to his beloved natural wood for his furniture creations.
He invented an innovative material called ForestBank, made from natural waste: leaves, bark, seeds, branches, and soil. In the construction or furniture industry, these are typically seen as useless byproducts. Yet, in the hands of an artist, the textures and colors of this diverse natural raw material come to life. As a result, waste is transformed into unique interior objects, as reported by Design Milk.
The designer blends plant-based materials with a mineral base and acrylic resin. He emphasizes that his signature furniture does not contain any organic solvents or volatile organic compounds. However, Yuma Kano keeps the technical details of his process under wraps.
The natural material ForestBank is one of a kind. Each batch is entirely different, as the raw materials change with the seasons. Green leaves turn yellow, orange, and brown as the cool weather sets in. The coloration of the plant components is significantly influenced by microorganisms living in the trees. The forest floor’s soil adds shades of brown and black to the material, while seed particles create unique patterns.
Before creating his next furniture masterpiece using this original technique, Yuma Kano meticulously surveys nearby parks, gardens, streets, and even lumber yards. Each time presents a new challenge for ecosystem preservation, as well as an opportunity to create an art object that is completely unlike any other.
Yuma Kano is one of the most acclaimed interior designers in Japan. He founded the Yumakano studio in 2012 alongside artist Yasuhiro Suzuki. Yuma takes pride in the fact that his studio breathes new life into natural materials often overlooked by industrial manufacturers.
He showcased his remarkable eco-furniture at the Designart Tokyo 2022 exhibition.
