The Hashira Collection: Q&A with Norm Architects

What first inspired the Hashira Collection?

The starting point was the Japanese paper lantern and the way it gives form to light. Its construction is simple yet the effect in a room can be quite profound. We were interested in the relationship between structure and atmosphere. Hashira carries something from that tradition: the idea of a translucent shade stretched around a visible frame, so the light becomes part of the object’s architecture.

What does the name Hashira mean?

Hashira means column or pillar in Japanese. As architects, that felt like a natural reference. A column is one of the most basic ways of defining space. In Hashira, the column isn’t heavy or monumental. It becomes a softer presence. The lamp stands in the room as a luminous structure, with the frame visible through the linen shade.

How did you translate the Japanese paper lantern
without making it too literal?

That was one of the essential questions for us. The Japanese paper lantern is so closely tied to Japan that a direct interpretation could easily feel clichéd. We weren’t interested in simply reproducing the appearance of the lantern. We were interested in how it works and what gives it its lasting quality. A thin surface softens the light while the construction remains visible through it. Hashira keeps that principle but changes the language. The paper becomes linen. The lantern becomes a textile lamp. That shift allowed the reference to stay present without becoming theatrical.

How does Hashira sit between Japanese and Scandinavian design?

Both traditions often begin with a practical need and try to remove what is unnecessary. The beauty comes from the way an object is made rather than from adding decoration. Hashira belongs to that way of thinking. It has the clarity of a simple architectural form, but the linen gives it warmth. It doesn’t try to look Japanese or Scandinavian in an obvious way. It is more about taking a familiar principle and making it work in another context.