2026 | Professional

MUSE Design Awards Gold Winner

Cherry Bark Lamp

Entrant

Muneji Toh Architects

Category

Lighting Design - Sustainable Lighting

Client's Name

-

Country / Region

Japan

About The Entry

We created a lamp using cherry bark.

Cherry bark is flexible and elastic, resistant to both moisture and dryness, and has been used in the traditional Japanese craft of " Kabazaiku ".

By drying the cherry bark and then using a special technique to thinly shave and polish it, a beautiful reddish-brown color and luster are created.

We have been exploring ways to showcase cherry bark in a manner different from the traditional methods used in Kabazaiku.

The pigment in cherry bark glows red when it catches light.

When light is captured, the pigment in the cherry bark glows bewitching red, revealing the beautiful patterns of the bark.

Each piece of natural cherry bark has a unique appearance, and its look can be transformed in various ways depending on how it is carved and polished.

We created a Cherry Bark Lamp using this special tree bark.

Cherry Bark Lamp can be transformed into various shapes, and its function also changes.

1. Pendant lamp

2. Table Lamp

3. Floor Lamp

In various spaces, Cherry Bark Lamp glows a bewitching red in the light.

By utilizing the techniques of " Kabazaiku " a traditional Japanese craft, cherry bark has been transformed into a beautiful material and changed it to an advanced design.

This bark is a deep reddish-brown color and is characterized by its elongated lenticels.

In harsh natural environments, cherry bark has a tendency to peel off easily in order to protect the inside of the tree and facilitate the circulation of nutrients.

Lenticels are pores that allow trees to breathe, and Japanese cherry trees are characterized by their elongated lenticels.

When light is captured, the pigment in the cherry bark glows bewitching red, revealing the beautiful patterns of lenticels.

As cherry bark ages, it gains luster and sheen, changing to a deep reddish-brown color, lighting up with deeper red.

The cherry bark is an environmentally friendly material that regenerates after a few years even if it is stripped off.

We live and work off the blessings of the mountains, protect them, and consider sustainability for the future.

Credits

Muneji Toh Architects
Muneji Toh
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