Lacquered sofa by Kazuhide Takahama for Simon Gavina. Italy, 1975

A sofa by the Japanese designer Kazuhide Takahama, featuring a box-shaped lacquered wooden frame crafted using traditional Japanese techniques, with gently rounded edges and large, distinctive cushions upholstered in linen.

It is the perfect fusion of classic Japanese minimalism and the Italian sophistication of the era. Takahama’s design philosophy viewed furniture as sculptural «boxes» capable of containing comfort. The contrast between the cool, flawless and reflective lacquer and the warm, cosy softness of the padded cushions creates an aesthetic tension with great visual impact.

Depth: 82 cm
Width: 152 cm
Height: 72cm
Seat height: 37 cm

Kazuhide Takahama (1930–2010) was a leading Japanese architect and designer. Based in Bologna, Italy, he fused minimalism and the contemplative traditions of the East with the rigour of Western industrial design. He rose to fame after designing the Japanese pavilion at the 1957 Milan Triennale, where he began his famous and fruitful collaboration with the renowned entrepreneur Dino Gavina