Starpool and Look Into Nature present: 調CHŌ 和WA – Crafting Balance

On the occasion of Fuorisalone 2026, Casa Starpool Milano hosts CHŌWA – Crafting Balance, an installation by the Japanese furnitore brand, Look into Nature created exclusively for Starpool.
Inspired by the Japanese concept of CHŌWA, a state of harmonious alignment between body, mind and environment, the project explores the theme of balance as a vital principle, expressed through design, materials and sensory experience. The collaboration between the two brands stems from a shared vision of wellbeing embodied in the two ideograms that form the word CHŌWA: chō, meaning to tune or bring into alignment, and wa, meaning harmony and peace. From this reflection comes CHŌWA — Manifesto of Balance, which outlines the principles underlying the collaboration between the two brands. According to this vision, balance is not a static condition but an ongoing relationship between different elements: a form of harmony that does not arise spontaneously but is consciously built through attention, measure and listening, much like in natural systems.

Within this dialogue, the cultures of Trentino and Japan meet without merging, each maintaining its own authenticity while sharing a common intention: inhabiting the world with restraint and in relationship with nature. Both territories are defined by unique and demanding natural environments — contexts in which harmony is never granted once and for all but is built over time as a dynamic relationship between people, landscape and culture.
From this encounter emerges a project founded on the balance between craftsmanship and technology, ritual and performance, mental and physical wellbeing.

At the center of the installation is the Longevity SPA CHŌWA Capsule edition, featuring Zerobody Dry Float and Zerobody Cryo by Starpool, reinterpreted through a new igusa covering developed by Look into Nature. Zerobody Dry Float is the only system in the world capable of reproducing the benefits of microgravity through dry flotation on 500 liters of basal-temperature water, without getting wet. Warmth, chromotherapy lighting and guided Brain Training programs promote deep relaxation and the regeneration of body and mind. Zerobody Cryo introduces an enveloping membrane capable of reaching temperatures between 4 and 6°C, offering the benefits of cryotherapy and cold-water immersion in a dry and comfortable experience. The system supports muscle recovery, helps reduce inflammation and strengthens the immune system.
Both systems are presented with a covering created by Look into Nature using igusa, the traditional Japanese rush used for centuries in the making of tatami mats and today a distinctive material in the brand’s production. This natural material, woven and dried according to techniques passed down for over 1,300 years, is appreciated not only for its understated elegance but also for its functional qualities: it is breathable, capable of purifying the air and regulating indoor humidity, helping create healthier and more comfortable spaces. Its weave generates a three-dimensional texture with a flat surface — a compact and luminous structure that brings the aesthetic and cultural values of Japanese tradition into contemporary design. The project extends the use of igusa beyond the traditional tatami context, integrating it into a contemporary design dimension. In CHŌWA, in particular, it experiments for the first time with the colors SUMI (炭・墨) – ink black, a deep shade used in calligraphy and ink painting – and KURI (栗) – chestnut brown, the color of the chestnut fruit – combined with the contemporary textile textures of the historic Danish company Kvadrat.

Through this material dialogue, technology and nature resonate together, as do natural properties and science-based benefits. Longevity is interpreted both as knowledge rooted in specific territories and as a field of contemporary research. The project also recalls the theme of the so-called Blue Zones, regions of the world where populations show an exceptionally high concentration of centenarians. In these contexts, longevity emerges from the harmony between different factors: a simple and predominantly plant-based diet, daily movement, a strong sense of community and a constant relationship with the natural environment. Similarly, both Alpine communities and Japanese traditions share a culture based on attention to the rhythms of nature, care for the body and the value of everyday practices. From this perspective, longevity is not only a biological goal but a cultural condition built over time, the result of the relationship between individual, community and landscape.
CHŌWA – Crafting Balance, with art direction and exhibition design by Chiara Torelli and Brigolin Baschera studio, fits within this horizon: a project in which local knowledge and technological innovation come into dialogue, transforming design into an experience of wellbeing, regeneration and mindful pause.

Within the intense rhythm of Milan Design Week, CHŌWA – Crafting Balance invites visitors to slow down and rediscover two territories, two cultures and a single harmony in motion, bringing back to the center the balance between body, mind and environment as a fundamental dimension of wellbeing.