nendo introduces its new architectural hardware collection for the Japanese brand SANEI. Dubbed ‘soroe’, the product line features a uniform set of designs using the cylinder with one side ‘sliced down’ as a base form.‘Cylindrical forms are easy on the hands but are slippery when gripped. Additionally, when multiple cylinders are next to one another, some gaps form. Creating faces resolves this, making it easier to fit pieces together and hook items on the fittings. Furthermore, because the design emphasizes a vertical or horizontal line, the hardware does not interfere with the existing horizontal floors and vertical walls,’ explains nendo. 

overall configuration | image © Takao Nagase

After establishing the foundation, nendo (see more  here ) extended the base form horizontally to create a ‘bar,’ which can be used as a door handle, towel hanger, or a supporting piece for a shelf. The flat face allows add-ons like trays, containers, mirrors, cups, and soap dispensers to be attached quickly and reliably. These items are anticipated to be used not only in the bathroom but also in closets, entryways, kitchens, and other areas of the home.

The dust box in the ‘soroe’ collection for SANEI (see more  here ) has a lid that balances on two supporting points, meaning that just lightly lifting one end will cause the box to open, and soft touch will close it. Meanwhile, the sink bowl and mirror appear to be hooked onto a bar. The cups, made of highly transparent silicone, are easy to stack and insert into cup holders because of the flat faces; while they look like glass, they are soft like rubber and are safe to be dropped by accident. The soap dispensers also emulate the base form, allowing them to be lined up side by side without producing gaps. ‘ The items and accessories that are typically placed haphazardly on countertops become naturally more organized through the design,’  adds the studio.

overall configuration | image © Takao Nagase

As for faucets, nendo created a standard, wall-mounted version. The wall-mounted faucet with a separate set of handles ensures that the elements are visually matched. In contrast, the one with the spout and handle attached appears as if the handle is floating on the spout, creating a unified impression when placed near a bar.

The same design rules apply to elements like door handles, rotating door locks, doorknobs, door stoppers, and toilet paper holders.  ‘While the items in the collection are not the main characters of a living space, by having them share the element of a sliced off ‘face,’ they help bring a sense of unity to the spatial whole,’  concludes nendo.

door handle | image © Takao Nagasedoor handle | image © Takao Nagase

faucet / sink | image © Kaori Uemura

wall accessory | image © Takao Nagase

containers | image © Kaori Uemura

accessories | image © Kaori Uemura

collaborators: Shinichiro Umehana, Hirotaka Tanaka

photography: Takao Nagase, Kaori Uemura

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