Noguchi's Akari Lamps

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Happy Thursday and welcome back to The Midmod Corner.

I stumbled upon an intriguing article the other day, hinting at a possible dip in housing prices—because, let’s be honest, with those eye-popping home prices and interest rates, we'd be better off renting for life. So to fact-check this, I challenged myself to find four mid-century homes for sale for less than $1 million. Let’s see if this is possible.

In today’s email:

• The Story: Shedding light on Noguchi's Akari lamp legacy 🏮

• Snippets: Levi’s enters the furniture game 👖

• On The Market: Mid-century gems under $1M 🏠

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📰 The Story

Akari Light Sculptures Saga

Ask someone about an Akari lamp, and chances are, you'd share a puzzled look. But here's the fun twist: you've actually encountered these delicate paper lamps gracing ceilings of stylish homes, in prestigious museums, and not to mention Pinterest boards. You simply didn't know what to call them. A quick browse of the #Akari hashtag on social media, and you'll be greeted by a trove of images commemorating his iconic designs.

For design enthusiasts, the late Japanese artist's lamps represent just one piece of his vast influence on modernism, which extends to playgrounds, gardens, and timeless furniture (his eponymous coffee table is a cult piece) Yet, even if the name Noguchi is new to you, you’ve almost certainly seen his cultural influence if you’ve ever stepped foot inside an IKEA and taken home a rice paper lamp.

I’m not saying Noguchi invented paper lanterns; they've been an integral part of Japanese culture since the 11th century. However, he did infuse them with a 20th-century twist.

When it comes to the story behind the Akari lamps…

…it's genuinely incredible how swiftly Noguchi brought them to like. The idea was ignited in 1951 on a trip to Gifu, a Japanese town famous for its production of paper parasols and lanterns. It was there that Noguchi witnessed a fishing festival held along the Nagara River, where each boat was adorned with lanterns. The very next day, Noguchi had sketched his first two prototypes. He called them Akari, a term that implies both illumination and weightlessness. “The light of Akari is like the light of the sun filtered through the paper of shoji. The harshness of electricity is thus transformed through the magic of paper back to the light of our origin - the sun - so that its warmth may continue to fill our rooms at night.” he said.

The first flat packed furniture

An authentic Akari lamp is crafted from just two essential components: a bamboo frame and handmade (washi) paper. The paper is carefully cut into strips, affixed to the bamboo structure, and once it dries, the internal wooden frame is removed, resulting in a resilient lamp with an inherently delicate appearance.

From its very inception, Noguchi envisioned Akari as a form of sculpture, accentuating an aspect that traditional chochin artisans often overlooked—the collapsible design of these lanterns. This innovation allowed his sculptures to be conveniently stored and shipped flat, effortlessly fitting into an envelope or a shallow box until they were unpacked and installed in a home. Remarkably, this concept emerged years before IKEA's establishment.

Fast-forward to today, Akari lamps have resurfaced in popularity alongside other highly Pinterest-able, wavy aesthetic pieces such as the Togo sofas, and other blob-core pieces. They possess the enchanting capability to infuse coziness to any space, just like giving a room one of those soft-glow Instagram filters that makes you look like a sexy, poreless marshmallow.

🗃 Snippets

The Creme de la Creme of web gems, home inspirations and latest trends.

Nostalgia Meets Innovation: Swedish audio brand Transparent introduces a record player that taps into Gen Z's love for the past. This isn't just any turntable; it's a complete listening experience. With advanced noise reduction tech, solid aluminum construction, and two chic color options, it's music with a modern twist.

Bedroom DIY Magic: Learn how to transform your bed into a work of art with these creative design ideas. It's all about creating a space that's uniquely you. So say goodbye to ordinary, and hello to a bed that's a work of art. Dive into the world of bedroom design!

Icons Meet Icons: While Levi's has always been synonymous with denim, their foray into furniture comes as a pleasant surprise. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Levi’s® 501® jean, the brand has joined hands with Vitra to present a distinctive furniture exhibition called Icons Re/Outfitted. The collaboration is currently on display at Dutch Design Week. 

A Former Rectory Makeover: The talented firm GRT Architects worked their magic and turned a crumbling neo-Gothic townhouse uptown into a modern, spacious home. Explore the transformation that breathed new life into this iconic space. It's a testament to the power of design and preservation.

🏘️ On The Market

Handpicked homes up for grabs—all for you to explore.