Toyo Kitchen spices things up, or a short history of Spanish design in Japan

Earlier this year Toyo Kitchen announced the release of Barcelona Design, a line of eccentric work by flamboyant Spanish designers such as Jaime Hayon and Antoine+Manuel. And despite the hefty price tags the company has been expanding their product mix to include tables, chairs, mirrors and even vases. Although the mix includes no original furniture – rather a reproduction of some of the designers’ more notable pieces – Japanese consumers, for the first time, are able to purchase these one-of-a-kinds from their nearby Toyo Kitchen showroom which, by the way, happens to be the largest kitchen showroom in all of Japan.

Tout va bien by Antoine+Manuel (990,000 yen)

And while it’s hard to imagine any of these pieces in a minimal, subdued Japanese home, Jaime Hayon is not exactly a stranger in Japan. Hayon’s renown in Japan was sealed when he began designing – interiors and shoes – for Camper Shoes, which had developed an almost instantaneous cult following upon their Asian  invasion in 1996.

Multi-leg Cabinet by Jaime Hayon (728,000 – 990,000 yen)

Taking notice of Japan’s affinity for Spain’s brash attention to detail and design aesthetic, the Spanish Embassy in Japan hosted an exhibition in 2007 in conjunction with 100% Design Tokyo. “Spain Playtime – Fresh Air in Spanish Design” was curated by Ana Mir and Emili Padrós from Emiliana Design Studio and featured many of Hayon’s designs. (The show was repeated in 2008 with Jaime Hayon again leading the pack of designers.) “Spain Playtime” met with great acclaim and was featured in several high-profile magazines. At that time Hayon had already begun his  collaborative efforts with Camper but two years later, during the summer of 2009, Christmas arrived early in Tokyo with an Hayon-designed Camper store in Omotesando.

Armchair outdoor by Jaime Hayon (78,000 yen)

Anyway, my final thought on the topic is, designer shoes are one things but I find It very hard to imagine that the people buying camper shoes are the same people buying kitchen tables and cabinets.

Armchair + cover by Jaime Hayon (1,100,000 yen)

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5 Comments

  1. Reading blogs like this one always makes me feel like a kid with his nose pressed up against the window in a taffy shop! The home we have is the one we will keep, and it is a tract home, which absolutely lets out the wonderful modern designs I am always coming across in my Internet surfing. The only way to achieve something like this for us would be to completely remodel the exterior of the home—and the interior as well! Much too expensive, to be sure! But it’s an idea I find myself fantasizing about from time to time, especially when I see designs like these. There is a real glory to what has been done here, and I thank you for sharing these concepts with us.

  2. Reading blogs like this one always makes me feel like a kid with his nose pressed up against the window in a taffy shop! The home we have is the one we will keep, and it is a tract home, which absolutely lets out the wonderful modern designs I am always coming across in my Internet surfing. The only way to achieve something like this for us would be to completely remodel the exterior of the home—and the interior as well! Much too expensive, to be sure! But it’s an idea I find myself fantasizing about from time to time, especially when I see designs like these. There is a real glory to what has been done here, and I thank you for sharing these concepts with us.

    • Johnny

      November 19, 2009 at 11:48 am

      wow, Joseph. I’m glad you liked the article. thanks! I hope someday you get that dream interior of yours!

  3. I´m studding Jaime Hayon for a project to my graduation and I´m falling in love by his work…some people maybe are right by saying that he is going to be the new Philipe Starck…Jaime work is so wonderful with simple lines as good combination of the colours!! Lovely!
    This is my favourite one check it out:
    http://www.hayonstudio.com/project.php?id=49

    See the lamps of this new brand, DELIGHTFULL, they have some great pieces, Marcus, a table lamp is my favourite one…check it out!

    http://www.delightfull.eu/

    Hope you like and give me your opinion

  4. I´m studding Jaime Hayon for a project to my graduation and I´m falling in love by his work…some people maybe are right by saying that he is going to be the new Philipe Starck…Jaime work is so wonderful with simple lines as good combination of the colours!! Lovely!
    This is my favourite one check it out:
    http://www.hayonstudio.com/project.php?id=49

    See the lamps of this new brand, DELIGHTFULL, they have some great pieces, Marcus, a table lamp is my favourite one…check it out!

    http://www.delightfull.eu/

    Hope you like and give me your opinion

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