Baya is a lounge chair inspired by animal nests.
My thesis began with the question: Why do humans feel compelled to create? To explore this, I studied instinctive nest-building. Nests, formed directly in response to their environment, are pure structures where function and shape are inseparable, offering insights into the origins of creation beyond cultural influence. Through the lens of the “nest,” I examined creativity between the human and the animal, using it as a mirror for self-reflection.
Baya’s structure is made of organically bent stainless steel pipes, imagined as branches and shaped through CNC bending. Thin leather strips are hand-woven and wrapped onto them, creating a “nest” through the interplay of machine precision and handcraft. Leather—durable, flexible, and deeply tied to human history—balances with steel to merge material narrative and structural function.
Its enveloping form supports varied postures and offers rest. Replaceable woven leather allows renewal, turning the chair from disposable into lasting, fostering care and affection.
In a world of mass production and short-lived consumption, Baya quietly asks: What does true sustainability mean?
Bio Natsumi KOMOTO (b.1994, Kyoto) is a designer exploring furniture as a tool for evoking emotions rooted in nature’s universal values. Her practice takes a seamless approach that transcends art and design, emphasizing materials and multi-genre perspectives. Guided by the belief that “everything around you is a mirror that reflects yourself,” she seeks new relationships between people and objects through humble dialogue, with craftsmanship grounded in respect for materials. Her pursuit of non-verbal communication design extends from childhood curiosity.
Other prizes 2025 – Nouvel Glass Competition / 1st prize (ECAL, Switzerland) 2019 – BVLGARI MECENATE / Selected (Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan) 2018 – COMITÉ COLBERT AWARD 2018 / Grand Prix (Tokyo University of the Arts, Japan) 2018 – Toyama Design Competition 2018 / Nominee (Toyama, Japan)
