Hana-arashi by Nendo and Paola Lenti: A Poetic Fusion of Sustainability and Sculptural Design
From the colorful energy of Soho, a quiet revolution in sustainable design is taking place. Hana-arashi—a breathtaking collaboration between Japan’s visionary studio Nendo and Italy’s renowned textile brand Paola Lenti—is transforming the way we see textile waste. This immersive exhibition at the newly launched Robina Benson Design House blends artistry, environmental innovation, and cultural poetry in a sculptural narrative where petals float and furniture blooms.
A Name Rooted in Nature and Emotion
The term Hana-arashi, which translates from Japanese as “storm of cherry blossoms”, sets a poetic tone. The installation captures the essence of petals swirling in the wind, yet it’s entirely crafted from textile offcuts. These discarded remnants—once waste—are reborn into vibrant sculptural forms that float, wrap, and adorn a new generation of furniture pieces.
This exhibition doesn’t just represent sustainability—it celebrates it with elegance.
Art from Offcuts: Where Sustainability Meets Beauty
Each piece in Hana-arashi is wrapped in Maris, Paola Lenti’s innovative, 100% recyclable mono-material originally designed for outdoor use. The furniture—ranging from chairs, poufs, and lighting to tables and sculptural baskets—is crafted using colorful production offcuts. By using leftover materials, the designers make a compelling case for circular design and zero-waste creativity.
Instead of hiding the imperfections, they’re highlighted. Seams, folds, and layering become intentional features, creating visual textures and stories unique to each item.
Sculptural Design Inspired by Nature
Under the creative direction of Oki Sato, founder of Nendo, the design language draws from natural, biomorphic forms. Smooth, rounded silhouettes resemble pebbles, petals, or cells. The influence of Japanese minimalism is evident in the reduction of excess, while Italian craftsmanship brings vibrancy and texture to the forefront.
Each furniture piece appears grown, not built—a seamless integration of form and function.
“An idea stays as an idea without craftsmanship,” says Oki Sato. This philosophy breathes life into Hana-arashi, where technical skill meets poetic storytelling.
The Gallery as an Ecosystem of Ideas
Set within the newly opened Robina Benson Design House, the installation turns the gallery into a living ecosystem. The floating textile petals create a meditative atmosphere, while the grounded furniture acts as both utility and sculpture. It’s an invitation to pause, to observe, and to engage in a dialogue between impermanence and permanence, fragility and resilience.
Robina Benson herself notes:
“We envisioned the Soho gallery as a creative haven. With Hana-arashi, we invite guests to explore the harmony between contemporary design and poetic expression.”
A Collaboration Rooted in Shared Values
This partnership is a perfect marriage of Japanese design philosophies of simplicity and emotion, and Italian innovation in textiles and sustainability. While Nendo brings a conceptual clarity and sense of movement, Paola Lenti contributes color mastery and technical precision.
It’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about redefining what waste means in design, and how emotion can be expressed through materials once deemed disposable.
Final Thought: Design as Renewal
Hana-arashi is more than an installation—it’s a manifesto for future design. One that values sustainability not as a trend, but as a foundation. One that sees offcuts as beginnings, not endings.
In a time where fast production dominates, Hana-arashi offers a moment of stillness—a chance to reimagine the lifecycle of materials, and our relationship with beauty, craftsmanship, and time.
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