Hall Haus x Higonokami : a bridge between design and tradition

Meet Teddy Sanches, industrial designer and co-founder of Hall Haus studio, Mitsuo Nagao, artisan blacksmith and fifth-generation owner of Nagao Kanekoma handmade knives, and Akihiko Shimizu, agent for the city of Miki (Hyogo). They will compare their practices through their collaboration in order to explore the relationship between craftsmanship and design.

Teddy Sanches, designer, co-founder of Hall Haus

Designer who graduated with honours from the prestigious ENSCI Les Ateliers, Teddy Sanches interrogates his practice thanks to the underground and African culture in which he grew up.

It was with this dynamic in mind that, straight out of school, he formed the Envahisseurs collective with his sister Deicy Sanches, putting hip-hop dance at the heart of their work and winning the Audi Talents and Villa Kujoyama awards.

And in 2020 he co-founded the Hall Haus studio with Abdoulaye Niang, Sammy Bernoussi and Zakari Boukhari. Launched directly by the ‘À l’Oeuvre’ residence of the Lafayette Anticipations Foundation, they have recently entered the collections of the Mobilier National.

Mitsuo Nagao, fifth generation of Nagao Kanekoma (会社説明)

Established on 1894 Mr.Komataro started making knife at Miki city since 1894.Celebrating its 130^th anniversary, the fifth generation Mitsuo continues to hand-forge knives.

The knives made by Nagao Kanekoma factory are called Higonokami and are traditional Japanese knives.The blade of a Higonokami features a three-layer structure with steel in the middle and soft iron on the outside.By forging,it makes the blade even sharper,more durable, and easier to sharpen,making it a product that can be used for a lifetime.Although it is an old-fashioned knife,we hope you use the Higonokami as the starting point of creativity,using tools to make things.

Akihiko Shimizu, Miki City Officer Hyogo Pref

His mission is to promote regional revitalization in Miki City. His current mission is to create new sustainable people-to-people exchanges with France through the Cabinet Secretariat Expo International Exchange Program.