SYMBIOSIS GARDEN
Central Saint Martins, London, UK
Yu Watanabe, a Japanese designer with a background in graphic design and advertising, explores how design can address complex social and environmental issues by merging tradition with innovation. His project Symbiosis Garden investigates the boundary between craft and mass production through a series of vases made from Urushi lacquer and mycelium.
Urushi, a centuries-old Japanese lacquer, is sustainable, repairable and renowned for its lustre and durability. Mycelium, the living root system of fungi, is cultivated in moulds, creating unique textures that grow organically over time. By coating the mycelium with Urushi, Watanabe both preserves and highlights these intricate structures, applying traditional techniques to finishes that resemble soil, wood and stone.
The contrast of glossy lacquer and porous mycelium embodies vitality, coexistence and the slow rhythms of natural growth. Symbiosis Garden offers a sustainable vision for interiors, where ancient craftsmanship and emerging biomaterials come together to reimagine our relationship with nature.
Learn more about Yu’s winning project here.
