01. Kosuke Kawamura
PROFILE
Born in 1979 in Hiroshima, Japan. Collage artist, graphic designer, and art director. In addition to collaborating with numerous fashion brands and companies, he is also active as an artist.
Instagram @kosukekawamura
"It's like choosing materials for a collage, you want to put what you like."
Kosuke Kawamura lives in a quiet condominium that is independently built and has an established private space. The spacious living room is efficiently furnished, creating a clean and calm space. The design around the ceiling has an industrial feel with visible concrete, but the wood flooring and warm lighting create a relaxing atmosphere that comfortably envelopes visitors.
The toys include figures from Bounty Hunter, American Cereal, which was given to Hikaru, the brand's designer, and a very rare figure from General Mills, all of which tickle adults' fancy.
How long have you lived in this house?
Kawamura:It has been just over a year. I was originally living on another floor in the same apartment building, but I was looking for a little more space, and when I heard that this room was available, I immediately decided to move in. The interior itself hasn't changed much from the previous room.
I'm impressed by the USM Haller racks filled with figurines and records.
Kawamura:Yes, it is. I had this shelf in my previous room. It's a standard shelf, but it's easy to increase or decrease, and the shape can be changed, so I never get tired of it. It is expensive, though (smiles). The simple design makes it suitable for any room, and the color of the doors and other parts can be changed, which is very convenient.
What brand of round table do you use as a dining table?
Kawamura:I fell in love with this table when I first saw it and had a friend ask me to reproduce it. I've been using it for several years since I moved into this apartment, and it's a good size and convenient. I do a lot of production and work here. The chairs are also from the same brand.
Which sofa is the one you are sitting on now? It's quite hard and doesn't sink down, so it's easy to sit on.
Kawamura:This "Marenco" by [arflex] was introduced after I came to this room. I was looking for a sofa to downsize since we don't have that many visitors, and a friend of mine who had bought this sofa before me traded it to me for a piece of artwork. I haven't given it to him yet, but we are talking about making a portrait of him.
It's wonderful to see furniture exchanged like that! On the subject of chairs, what do you think of this one-person chair?
Kawamura:This is an easy chair by READYMADE, made from recycled plastic bottle caps. The design motif is like Jeanneret's (Pierre Jeanneret), and I like it because it looks cute and is easy to sit on. I often use it when I have friends over and they can't sit on the sofa.
Is this quaint and atmospheric coffee table from some expensive vintage?
Kawamura:No (laughs), I think I bought this one over 15 years ago, it's a nondescript cheap thing that my mother bought me when I was in my 20s when I came to Tokyo, and every time I move, I try to throw it away, but it keeps coming back.
What do you mean by "come back"?
Kawamura:My friends sometimes help me move, and when I talk to them about it, they say, "This is something that shouldn't be thrown away," and they bring it back even though I put it in the oversize garbage. When I asked my friend who consults on furniture if he wants a vintage table, he would say, "This table is vintage, so don't change it," and the conversation would not go anywhere. For some reason, it's a table that's always been in my house (laughs).
If you've been using it that long, you must have a lot of memories of it.
Kawamura:I even made a collage for the "Katsuhiro Otomo GENGA Exhibition" on this table. My studio at the time had too many things to work with, so I used to eat and work at this table in my small house, but I never thought I would keep it for such a long time. I never thought I would keep it for so long. I fear that I will use it for the rest of my life (laughs).
With the rug and TV, this space feels like a living room.
Kawamura:This rug is a 2019 collaboration with Babylon. I've been wanting to have a carpet for a long time now, and I've been waiting for a collaboration last year with a certain brand and never bought it, but for some reason, that product dropped, so I went to ....... I am still on a journey to find a carpet (lol).
The storage box used to carry records is also a magnificent interior. The display of items that Kawamura has collected over the years, such as a table lamp made in collaboration with Supreme and Scarface, is also a key point of interest.
The glass-fronted rooms are designed in such a way that you cannot enter without a security card, a specification that has been in place since we moved in. This has been the case since we moved in. He said, "This room is soundproofed, so I can watch movies. The room is soundproofed, so it's nice to watch movies and have an immersive experience.
Do you have a particular sound system for DJs?
Kawamura:The speakers are standard JBL speakers. The sound quality is just right. They look cool, and to be honest, I don't use them for music or movies that require high sound quality, so they are sufficient for my needs. The tuner, turntable, CD player, etc. are placed on the same USM Haller rack. This unification of the equipment is what makes the USM Haller so convenient.
Indeed. The whole room looks cool and cohesive.
Kawamura:I remember that I had a Technics cassette deck, radio tuner, and amplifier that I used at my parents' house, which I picked up from a jazz cafe in my neighborhood. I found them at a jazz cafe in my neighborhood, but they are now vintage, and they look so cool now that I'm thinking of bringing them back next time I go back home.
Lastly, what do you place importance on when arranging the interior?
Kawamura:One of the criteria is whether it fits the space or not. If so, wooden furniture becomes more and more common. It is not good to have too much woody atmosphere, but it is hard to match rugged and industrial furniture in my home. Whatever the case may be, I think I choose thin furniture as a base.
The other thing is something I genuinely like. The same is true when I make artworks. I choose materials for collages because I like them and I want to use them. The feeling is the same. I enjoy thinking, "I like this piece of furniture, so how can I match it to the room? When you get older in this way, it's nice to be able to trade and enjoy furniture, since many of your friends also have furniture as their possessions. In this way, I think the range of ways to enjoy interior design has expanded recently.
1_Eames lounge chair and ottoman
1,089,000 yen (Herman Miller Store Marunouchi)
The Eames lounge chair is not a chair you can easily afford, but that makes sense considering its universal appeal and functionality! I like to use it when I want to lie down for a while when I get home.
2_Vitra coffee table
From 294,800 yen (Vitra)
I thought it would be convenient to have a small coffee table by the sofa," he says, and if he had to choose, one of the candidates would be from Vitra, just like the dining table.
3_Large rug
I don't have a specific manufacturer or brand in mind, but rather, "I'd like a large rug made of a material that has a stuffy feel to it that would go well with this room, but I haven't been able to find a good one for a long time..."
