Apartamento Secreto / Himitsuno Kakurega (秘密の隠れ家) by Ariake and Parachilna
As part of this year’s 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen, Japanese furniture brand Ariake and Spanish lighting label Parachilna have come together to create Apartamento Secreto / Himitsuno Kakurega (秘密の隠れ家) – an immersive installation that quietly invites visitors into a hidden world of craftsmanship, intimacy and calm.
Unfolding within a tucked-away apartment on the third floor of The Conary, the project is presented by Est.18, a Nordic distributor known for representing makers with a strong focus on traditional craftsmanship and collaborative design. The title, which loosely translates to “secret apartment” or “hidden sanctuary,” reflects the intention behind the exhibition: to create a retreat from the city’s noise and tempo, where considered furniture and lighting shape the rituals of everyday life.
Curated by Gabriel Tan, Creative Director of Ariake, and styled by Tine Daring, the apartment installation offers a dialogue between two brands who, while based in different parts of the world, share a commitment to patient refinement and expressive materiality. Ariake’s sculptural yet restrained furniture forms a quiet backdrop for conversation, while Parachilna’s poetic lighting plays with atmosphere and tactility – where light becomes an architectural gesture rather than simply a utility.
“We wanted to focus on the moments of daily life where thoughtful objects matter,” says Bothe. “Both Ariake and Parachilna design for human connection: how people gather, work, and live together. The apartment setting reveals how furniture and lighting can create an environment that is a respite from the busy world while supporting intentional living.”
Complementing the core offering are handcrafted accessories and objects that enrich the scenography: collectible objects by Origin Made, textural rugs by Sera Helsinki, and Kaji Bark Sculptures by Gen Taniguchi of Nao Washi – a 300-year-old family-run washi paper atelier in Japan. Together, these pieces offer a layered, meditative sensibility that invites slowing down and presence.
Founded in Saga, Japan, Ariake is known for its collaborative design process, which brings international designers into close partnership with local artisans. Each collection is shaped through immersive workshops, resulting in furniture that fuses Japanese tradition with contemporary perspectives – as seen in recent releases like the Hinode Dressing Table by Monica Förster and the Koi Chair by Gabriel Tan.
Barcelona-based Parachilna, on the other hand, approaches lighting as an emotional medium. Born from a heritage in the lighting industry, the brand champions global designers in exploring new languages of form and light. Its latest pieces – such as the sculptural Topuro collection by Guido Valín and new colourways for the Oïphorique series – reflect a balance of boldness and craftsmanship, where every detail contributes to a wider narrative.
Together, Ariake and Parachilna propose a compelling vision for contemporary living – one rooted in craft, cultural exchange, and an enduring belief in the power of well-made objects to elevate daily life. Apartamento Secreto is less a display than an invitation – to enter quietly, to feel, and to dwell.
