Uneri is a furniture collection by Tokyo-based designer Soichiro Tanaka of Sotanaka that uses branches collected from street trees and local parks across the city. The series includes chairs, stools, and tables formed from irregular branch sections paired with smooth circular and rounded surfaces. The designs integrate the natural forms of the branches into the overall structure. Rounded seats, backs, and tabletops contrast with the organic lines of the supporting frames, giving each piece a distinctive silhouette shaped by the source material.
The collection draws on principles associated with Japanese design traditions, including the appreciation of natural materials and signs of age. Branches that might otherwise be discarded are incorporated into functional furniture pieces through a deliberate process of selection and placement. The Uneri collection includes seating and table designs built from reclaimed local wood gathered throughout the city.
Image Credit: Sotanaka
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Reclaimed Urban Wood
- Discarded city tree branches are becoming a distinctive material source for premium furnishings that combine local provenance with low-waste production.
- Organic Structural Design
- Irregular natural forms create opportunities for furniture collections where each frame, silhouette, and support system is shaped by the original material.
- Biophilic Craft Aesthetics
- Design languages rooted in age, texture, and imperfection offer brands a way to differentiate mass-market interiors through emotionally resonant natural materials.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Furniture Design
- Reclaimed branch-based construction introduces new possibilities for limited-run seating and tables that merge sculptural character with functional performance.
- Sustainable Materials
- Urban forestry waste represents an underused supply stream for circular manufacturing models centered on visible reuse and localized sourcing.
- Interior Decor
- Nature-informed statement pieces can reshape residential, hospitality, and retail spaces by adding material storytelling alongside visual warmth.
