It’s not quite what you would expect of a Christmas tree, but something extraordinary is exactly what you expect from the innovative Nobu Hotel Shoreditch.
The hotel, which opened earlier this year, commissioned East London Origami artists Papershake to create a striking festive three-metre tall centrepiece for its lobby lounge.
The result is a tree, above, which combines elements from ancient Japanese art with modern parametric design techniques. With multiple facets catching the light to create a geometric array of light and shadow, the tree will also be illuminated from within in a fresh approach to the traditional Christmas tree.
The tree, which goes live at the hotel on 22 November, has been handmade at Papershake’s nearby Hackney Wick studio using luxury “shoji” paper, as used in traditional Japanese screens.
This use of natural materials mirrors the design of the hotel, which features curated collection of timbers, dark toned stone and heavily woven textiles in natural tones and shades of ai-zome blue, which are juxtaposed against robust surfaces of patinated metal.
The festive centrepiece will sit alongside the hotel lobby’s iconic feature wall, constructed from an eclectic collection of reclaimed, handmade tiles including 18th century French floor tiles, Staffordshire blue ridge tiles from 1930-50s, York stone from mid-1800s and a reclaimed oak beam that was specially silvered for five years.
Papershake’s Christmas Tree forms a series of events and celebrations taking place at Nobu Hotel Shoreditch this festive season.
The Lobby Lounge will be home to a retail space selling Christmas Hampers including Nobu Style mince pies, Hokusetsu TK40 Sake, Matsuhisa wine and other treats, and on the 4th December the local St Monica’s Catholic School Choir will be singing Christmas carols in to bring some festive cheer.
Papershake’s design is set to fill the Lobby Bar with festive cheer will be on display from 22 November until the New Year.
