The Kawara Armchair

An elegant armchair designed with undulating plywood armrests.

Created by Paris-based design duo Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec for Japanese furniture brand Koyori, the Kawara Armchair is as elegant as it is distinctive. The imaginative design uses molded plywood in an ingenious way, resulting in a piece of furniture that doubles as a sculptural object. At the same time, the curved elements enhance the user’s comfort. Featuring three-dimensional curved armrests, seat and backrest, the armchair strikes a bold presence in a room. The armrests have an undulating form that seems to move, adding dynamism to the armchair’s silhouette. Curved to provide optimal support, the backrest makes the armchair extra comfortable, along with the subtly curved seat. Finally, tubular legs complete the creative design.

Crafted by experienced artisans, Kawara features three separate plywood molds that come together without the need for extra reinforcement hardware. The excellent craftsmanship also ensures that the plywood won’t shrink or warp over time. Koyori offers the Kawara Armchair in different finishes that range from natural to gray, black and dark green. Each color enhances the design in a different way, but this refined piece of furniture complements any interior in style. The armchair also comes in an upholstered version, with materials ranging from textured textiles to leather. Photography © Hiroshi Iwasaki.