Forget baubles and tinsel. When iconic Japanese architect Kengo Kuma decided to design Christmas trees for the first time in his decades-long career, it was maybe no surprise that the material palette was simple, minimal and natural – crafted purely from wood. Kuma this week unveiled his two Christmas trees, each carefully designed to harmonise with their settings in two hotels he also designed: The Tokyo Edition, Toranomon and The Tokyo Edition, Ginza.
This being Kuma, these are no typical Christmas trees. The creations are made up of minimal curves and lines by skilled craftsmen from respected Japanese woodmakers Karimoku, in a medley of quality woods (oak, magnolia, walnut, maple) – and, in a sustainable festive twist, after Christmas, the trees will be dismantled and transformed into furniture.
