Panasonic to Present “SLIDING NATURE” Concept at the Milano Salone del Mobile 2014

Osaka, Japan - Panasonic Corporation today announced that it will present a house that “breathes” - a fusion of nature and living space, under the concept of “SLIDING NATURE” at the Milano Salone del Mobile 2014, one of the largest and most influential design exhibitions in the world, to be held in Milan this April.

Panasonic has made spatially-inspired presentations using its housing products at Milano Salone del Mobile since 2008. The company aims to make proposals for advanced designs and next-generation lifestyles as a leading company in housing construction materials, equipment, and electric construction materials in Japan.

At this year's exhibition, in its seventh consecutive year of participation in the event, Panasonic will demonstrate a space where the living environment and nature are in concert with each other by using large sliding doors and LED lighting under the concept of “SLIDING NATURE.” The installation was designed by TORAFU ARCHITECTS, an architectural design office that is active in a wide range of fields, including architecture, installations, and interior design. With this installation that fuses Panasonic's proprietary cutting-edge technologies into the culture and wisdom of traditional Japanese housing, the company will propose to the world new value for spaces combining the living environment and nature. At the adjacent venue, Panasonic will also exhibit kitchen products for business users (B2B customers).

The “SLIDING NATURE” Concept of the Exhibit

Japanese houses traditionally use “Fusuma” or “Shoji” paper sliding doors to take the gifts of nature into homes, such as pleasant breezes and soft sunlight. Thanks to the sliding doors, people can also enjoy the surrounding scenery.
Panasonic is developing an energy management business that combines “active” and “passive” energy management. Active energy management involves housing equipment, such as solar panels and storage batteries, in addition to energy efficient appliances, while passive energy management aims to efficiently control the benefits of nature by designing housing structures to its best advantage and employing heat-insulating materials.
In this installation, Panasonic will use sliding doors, based on the concept of passive energy management, which can welcome the blessings of nature, such as pleasant breezes and sunlight, while closing out the cold and the heat. This is combined with LED lighting, a component of active energy management, to both conserve energy and achieve better spatial value by matching lighting to people's lifestyle.

In its “SLIDING NATURE” installation, Panasonic will propose a new relationship between people's living environments and nature.

About the Panasonic Installation

Map of the Venue

About the Panasonic Installation

In the courtyard of the University of Milan campus, we have created a house-shaped structure with walls made of sliding panels. As they open, the enclosing boundaries disappear and the inner space integrates with the surrounding environment. We designed a breathing house that establishes a new, dynamic relationship with nature can be created with sliding panels that function both as doors and exterior walls.
Marking a contrast with massive Western architecture, the pure-white sliding doors make the structure seem abstract as they move. With their movement, the ceiling of the structure at the center of the courtyard glows with light, amid the LED bulbs placed around it like growing plants and the slow flickering of lights in the cloister, creating an ever-changing panorama.
We wanted to create a space in which the private turns public, while integrating with the surroundings. An ever-transforming place with sliding doors opens up a new relationship with the external world.

Founded in 2004 by Koichi Suzuno and Shinya Kamuro, TORAFU ARCHITECTS employs a working approach based on architectural thinking. Works by the duo include a diverse range of products, from architectural design to interior design for shops, exhibition space design, product design, spatial installations and film making. Amongst some of their mains works are 'TEMPLATE IN CLASKA', 'NIKE 1LOVE', 'HOUSE IN KOHOKU' 'airvase', 'Gulliver Table'. 'Light Loom (Canon Milano Salone 2011)' was awarded the Grand Prize of the Elita Design Award. Published in 2011 were the 'airvase book' and 'TORAFU ARCHITECTS 2004-2011 Idea + Process' (by BIJUTSU SHUPPAN-SHA CO., LTD.) and in 2012, a picture book titled 'TORAFU's Small City Planning' (by Heibonsha Limited).

About the Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano

The annual Salone Internazionale del Mobile di Milano, to be held for the 53rd time this April, is one of the largest and most influential design expos in the world. The Salone, which comprises a main Fiera space and Fuori Salone installations throughout the city, is a global showcase not only of designer talent but also in recent years a launch pad for major brand product lines.

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development and engineering of electronic technologies and solutions for customers in residential, non-residential, mobility and personal applications. Since its founding in 1918, the company has expanded globally and now operates over 500 consolidated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.30 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2013. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company strives to create a better life and a better world for its customers. For more information about Panasonic, please visit the company's website at http://panasonic.net/.