Maruni Wood Industry: Salone del Mobile 2014

Japanese furniture brand Maruni lured visitors to its stand at the Salone del Mobile with a new designs by Naoto Fukasawa and Jasper Morrison. Here, we explore the secrets behind their seating collection

Wooden chair
3475730201001 Watch Maruni art director and designer Naoto Fukasawa explain how he brought his vision for the brand's new collection to life
(Image credit: press)

As the bells and whistles of Milan’s Salone del Mobile subside, one of the memories that resonates with us the most is the happy discovery of the Maruni stand, which quietly awaited us at the Rho fairgrounds. Revealing itself at the very heart of the show, it provided the refuge we sought after navigating the outer layers of the hall – not least due to the warm embrace of the new Roundish sofa, designed by the company’s art director, Naoto Fukasawa.

The three-seater has a curved upholstered back that wraps around the body like the arm of a suitor. Maruni showed it in a brilliant cobalt blue. And, paired with a duo of Roundish armchairs and a stool, it saw no end of love, with visitors caressing the distinctive backrest while awaiting their turn to settle in.

With Fukasawa’s guidance, Maruni has transformed itself from a manufacturer of hand-finished wood furnishings following a European ideal into a design-led brand that emphasises minimal Japanese aesthetics and traditional woodcraft for contemporary lifestyles. His Hiroshima wood dining chairs, designed for the company in 2008, have a distinctive, unvarnished sinuousness but are altogether classic. Years later, they are sold in more countries than ever (25 and counting); recently the London retailer Twentytwentyone picked up the range as well.

The presence of Fukasawa and now Jasper Morrison at the helm of the design team tells you what you need to know about the brand’s focus. Both designers are revered for putting forth solutions for everyday living that are finely wrought but not overwrought: pure function without creative flourish. And where seating is concerned, they are steadfast in their commitment to comfort.

At the fair, Morrison’s slender Lightwood chairs appeared in their latest ashwood incarnations alongside Fukasawa’s Roundish dining chairs, with their new upholstered seats. We also gravitated toward Morrison’s wood-framed Bruno sofa, launched in Milan with its loose cushions upholstered in pale-pink fabric from kvadrat, its backrest tweaked at an easy reclining angle.

It all had the effect of tempering the kaleidoscopic madness of the fair: just a few bare essentials to take the edge off. If that was the point of the stand – and the point of the brand – it wasn’t lost on us.

Maruni showroom displaying tables and chairs

Maruni's stand at this year's Salone del Mobile was a happy surprise, revealing itself at the very heart of the sprawling Rho fairgrounds.

(Image credit: Nacasa & Partners Inc)

Blue seating with wooden frames and coffee table

The brand debuted Fukasawa's three-seater 'Roundish' sofa, which had a curved upholstered back that wrapped around the body like the arm of a suitor. Maruni showed it in a brilliant cobalt blue and paired with a duo of 'Roundish' armchairs and a stool.

(Image credit: Nacasa & Partners Inc)

Wooden tables and chairs

Jasper Morrison’s slender 'Lightwood' chairs (right), meanwhile, appeared in their latest ashwood incarnations alongside Fukasawa’s 'Roundish' dining chairs (centre), with their new upholstered seats.

(Image credit: Nacasa & Partners Inc)

Seating area with wooden frames

We also gravitated toward Morrison’s wood-framed 'Bruno sofa', launched in Milan with its loose cushions upholstered in pale-pink fabric from kvadrat, its backrest tweaked at an easy reclining angle.

(Image credit: Nacasa & Partners Inc)

Visitors walking around show room near blue seating area

Visitors at the fair flocked to Maruni's stand to see the new collection. Fukasawa's 'Roundish' collection saw no end of love, with visitors caressing the distinctive backrest while awaiting their turn to settle in.

(Image credit: Nacasa & Partners Inc)

Naoto Fukasawa (left) and designer Jasper Morrison

Maruni art director and designer Naoto Fukasawa (left) and designer Jasper Morrison (right).

(Image credit: Nacasa & Partners Inc)

Maruni wooden chairs in different shades

Fukasawa's 'Hiroshima' wood dining chairs (left), designed for the company in 2008, have a distinctive, unvarnished sinuousness but are altogether classic.

(Image credit: Nacasa & Partners Inc)

Green sofa pads on wooden frame

'Bruno' sofa, by Jasper Morrison

(Image credit: press)

Close up view of wooden framed sofa

'Bruno' sofa, by Jasper Morrison

(Image credit: press)

Wooden sofa with dark blue seating pads

'Roundish' sofa, by Naoto Fukasawa

(Image credit: press)

Close up view of sofa with rounded edging

Detail of 'Roundish' sofa, by Naoto Fukasawa

(Image credit: press)

Wooden chair with red seat pad

The 'Roundish' dining chair with upholstered seating, by Naoto Fukasawa

(Image credit: press)

Wooden framed chair

'Hiroshima' chair, by Naoto Fukasawa

(Image credit: press)

Close up view of wooden chair

'Hiroshima' chair, by Naoto Fukasawa

(Image credit: press)

Light wooden chair

'Lightwood' chair, by Jasper Morrison

(Image credit: press)

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.