The Journey of Birch
In collaboration with Grand Seiko
Event: Design Miami/
2021, Miami, USA
An Immersive Experience Reflecting on the Nature of Time and Travel.
Grand Seiko, the renowned luxury Japanese timepiece manufacturer, has invited us to create an installation for Design Miami/ which celebrates the brand’s strong bond to nature.
Titled The Journey of Birch, the installation is an imaginative, enchanting environment influenced by Grand Seiko’s new award-winning “White Birch” timepiece which binds beauty, nature, and time together.
The dial of the “White Birch” is inspired by the slender and strikingly beautiful white birch trees that thrive in the northern parts of Japan and which grow in profusion near the Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, where this timepiece is made.
With its intricate textures, fine detail, and delicate subtlety, The Journey of Birch is a window that opens onto the distinctive natural environment of Japan and the exquisite craftsmanship of Grand Seiko.
For many of its timepieces, Grand Seiko finds inspiration in the ecosystems that surround its watchmaking studios. For The Journey of Birch, it was imperative to incorporate both elements of the natural world and the brand’s Nature of Time philosophy, which celebrates the Japanese spirituality of time brought to life with the pride and spirit of Takumi (craftsmanship), into a fully immersive space where visitors can experience a multisensory journey of time.
Entering The Journey of Birch, visitors find themselves in a space that is an abstract interpretation of a birch tree forest; with indigo-colored panoramic murals, weaved with a metallic substrate that shimmers when light hits its surface, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that feels both familiar yet surreal.
The room is anchored by the centerpiece display, a three-ring clock that spans the height of the installation. Each ring has its own distinctly finished metal-rod, reminiscent of watch hands, that travels at its own interval, hours, minutes, and seconds.
With the passing of time, each rod draws a circle in the sand that serves as the clock’s base.
Flanking the space are crate benches, fashioned to provide seating. The materials used for the benches and crates are a reference to travel, symbolizing the journey of the white birch from Japan to Miami, and the time in which it takes to make it.
The benches are also equipped with headphones, which capture the sound of the clock hands moving in the sand.
The final experience is one that engages the senses - sight, touch, and sound - and invites visitors to contemplate nature and their relationship with time.
With special thanks to:
Heart, Pacteam, Calico Wallpaper and Eren Yildirim