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exclusive land in kyoto for sale!

A friend (land surveyor) offered me this exclusive information that I have the pleasure to share with the Bartok design community.

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If you have been to Kyoto, you probably know Ninen-zaka and Sannen-zaka: the picturesque area that leads to the Kyo-mizu-dera temple.
A pedestrian area, made of slopes and stairs is filled with shops and cafes and is flocked with tourists 365 days a year.
It is in this area, on a site also accessible by car there is a property available for sale! (110.98 m2 land with 188 m2 building)

At present a timber frame western style 2 story house + basement (built in 1984) occupies the lot.
Unfortunately the building is not a nice traditional japanese house but the location is extremely rare and valuable.

Considering that this type of properties are not available on the public real estate market, this is a unique opportunity for somebody wanting a second house in Japan.

Most of the neighboring buildings are used as high-end Air BnB and are always fully booked so it can be used as a profitable investment when not occupied. Of course it can be remodeled japanese style or can be rebuilt (being an architect I can help here…)

The total floor area is about 188 m2 and the asking price (land + building) is 200 million yen (about USD 1.8 million)

For any inquiries, please contact me by email -> japan@bartokdesign.com
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waiting for the spring…

This year we are experiencing a cold and long winter with meters of snow on the traditionally snowy west coast.
Even the major cities such as Tokyo or Kyoto were coated in white several times.

But spring will come.
In the TV news they started to show the first sakura buds from Okinawa, to reassure the people sensitive to cold (like me…) that indeed spring will come sometime soon!
While waiting for the spring, I recommend the 3 following actions:

1) warm up in hot water! If you have an ofuro, you know what I am talking about.

2) enjoy the last spurt of winter lethargy on the SU~ day bed!
You can check the video on how it is built here:

or just jump to the indiegogo page to order one while the 25% OFF conditions last -> https://igg.me/at/SU-DAY-BED

3) prepare for a fresh start with new fragrant hinoki business cards!
more information at -> https://mokumei.com/
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With the 3 tips above, I am sure you will be able to cut thru the last icicles and fully enjoy the coming spring!
In any case, if you still feel cold or cannot sleep because of a creative idea, or a craving for a bowl of miso soup, please write me!
I am looking forward to do something together!

All the Best//
iacopo torrini

new branding for the day-bed project. SUU SUU …

As you probably know, I am running a crowd funding campaign on indiegogo to produce at lower cost the wood and leather bed I designed for an English client (of course with his approval and encouragement!)

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The prototype came out really nicely: the balance between the materials, sizes, colors is very stylish and above the expectations. I uploaded the photos into the crowdfunding page, but when I tried to change the status from “concept” to “prototype”, the system did not allow me to.

As a coincidence in that very timing, a friend contacted me with the greeting: “I have to pull your ears…!”

He told me he just found the campaign through the link on the bartok design blog.

●PROBLEM #1: Looking at the banner and title, his first impression was that the campaign was a charity! (to buy a daybed for Michael…)

After reading the description the scope and the story behind the naming becomes evident, but here comes another pulling of ears…

●PROBLEM #２: The branding as it is now is too personalized. The person buying it doesn`t want Michael`s bed: he/she wants it to be his/her daybed, not somebody else`s.

●PROBLEM #3: Additionally, being a daybed, it is too easy to associate it with the image of “your friend Michael” asking to stay over for a couple of days sleeping on the sofa (and eventually ending up staying for months eating popcorn and camping in your living room…!!)

These are the reasons behind my decision to re-launch the campaign, with the same product
but with a different branding.

While I still have to add some photos and description, the new campaign page is live!
Please take a look at the link below to see the video of the completed prototype.
https://igg.me/at/SU-DAY-BED

Thanking you in advance for any advice you may have, please find here my Best regards!

day-bed completed!

Here is the leather mattress and cushion completed. As you can see two full cow hides have been used for the left/right side without joints.
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The frame is also complete and the graphic keyaki wood grain is providing the perfect accent for a very simple and classic design.
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click below to see the other 6 photos with details of the frame and mat.
Check also the crowdfunding campaign page: http://igg.me/at/day-bed

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finishing the daybed frame

Here are the photos of the finishing phases of the “Michael” day bed manufacture

The legs pegs are positioned to take advantage of the thickest section of the frame

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click below to see the other 13 photos of the manufacture!

Alternatively, check the crowdfunding campaign page for more details and to purchase keyaki daybed: http://igg.me/at/su-day-bed

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update about the daybed!

The manufacture of the keyaki daybed is proceeding smoothly. Here are the pictures of the progress with comments.

1) hinoki slats, 15mm thick, cut to size
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click below to see the other 9 steps
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new year card 2018!

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like a walk with your best friend,
like the smile of a child,
like a japanese ofuro,

may the New Year be “round” and “square” for you
and … filled with aromatic hot water!

All the Best//
Bartok design Japan Co.

the first sunrise of 2018!

As from Japan we are the first ones to enter in the new year, I am pleased to send you the sunrise of 2018!
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I saw it from Ino-yama, one of the 7 “small fuji” mountains of japan, located in Marugame city – Shikoku island.
The sun rose at 7:16 between the mountains and a low tiara of clouds. For this reason, the sunrise was particularly beautiful.

Happy New Year!!
May the 2018 bring you health, happiness, prosperity and serenity!

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japanese day-bed crowdfunding campaign

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Alas I was able to share with you and the world our new project: building a day bed using japanese wood and traditional woodworking techniques.

You can find more details and even purchase discounted daybeds here: http://igg.me/at/day-bed

here below is the main inspiration source:

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I have a business card holder made of wood. 100% wood. The button to open it, the spring, the hinge are all made with wood essences which are most suitable for the function. Not a single part of metal. not a nail, not a screw. I have been using it daily for 18 years and all the joints are tight and the movements effortless like day 1. The new daybed will be manufactured with the same concept: no metal parts at all.

And here I am with Kitajima-san, the passionate furniture maker who will produce the daybeds.
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The daybed will have the same size of a kyoma tatami mat (1910x855mm) and will be topped with a full grain leather mattress.

The sale price (after 2018/3/1) will be 6,000 USD + shipping fees, while the crowdfunding price is 4,500 USD + shipping fees (maximum 10 units). Therefore if you are interested, contact me for any additional information and hurry up to secure yours!
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here is the keyaki lumber that will be used to build the frame.
As is explained in the indiegogo page, the daybed originates from the design process and mail conversation with a Bartok design client, Michael. It is thanks to him if this daybed will have a stylish and sharp design, without compromising with the seating an sleeping comfort.
Thank you again Michael!

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