Work: H-Horse

Description

“Whiteness and transparency, materials reduced to the absolute minimum, satin finishes, lightness, and invisibility—these are the defining characteristics of Nendo. The studio is also incredibly prolific across numerous fields; in fact, the word nendo means ‘clay,’ perfectly expressing this idea of pure malleability.” — Chiara Alessi

The H-Horse is a minimalist rocking horse crafted from transparent methacrylate, a premium plastic material. Designed by the Nendo collective and manufactured by Kartell since 2016, it offers a highly stylized reimagining of a classic childhood toy. Despite its stripped-back geometry, there is no mistaking its form: at first glance, its clean lines immediately evoke the pure essence of a rocking horse.

Standing 74 cm tall, the object is brought to life by creatively deforming the shape of a hypothetical H-beam—an architectural component normally made of steel, but here rendered in fluid methacrylate.

By rotating the letter ‘H’ from a vertical orientation to a horizontal one, the silhouette of the horse emerges through a series of elegant bends: the lower curve forms the rocker, while the upper curve serves as the seat before extending upward to shape the stylized head of the horse.

“Nendo is a collective of professionals that first came together under the guidance of Japanese designer Oki Sato in 2002. In just over twenty years of work, the studio has managed to forge an incredibly strong, recognizable identity, all while paying homage to the Japanese principle of ‘no style, no name, no brand’ (muji).” — Chiara Alessi