Gommaire - Milan

Creating a Bespoke Bonsai for Gommaire at Salone del Mobile

Founded in 2015, Gommaire Organic Living began with an ambition to bring a distinctive Belgian furniture collection to life. Since then, the brand has grown from a small business with bold aspirations into an established name within the international interior and exterior design market.

Gommaire approaches furniture and decorative design as a form of storytelling. Its collections bring together timeless forms, carefully chosen materials and a strong connection to nature. Each individual piece contributes to a wider organic concept, creating spaces that feel complete, cohesive and naturally inviting.

That philosophy is shaped by the people behind the brand. Gommaire’s in house designers develop original organic creations, while experienced craftspeople translate those ideas into finished pieces that preserve the character and beauty of the natural world. 

A Natural Centrepiece for Salone del Mobile

Each year, Salone del Mobile brings together leading furniture brands from around the world, each presenting its own interpretation of contemporary design. For Gommaire, the exhibition stand reflected the same understated approach found throughout its collections.

Natural textures, soft tones and beautifully manufactured furniture created a calm and balanced setting. The space did not rely on excessive decoration to attract attention. Instead, its impact came from the quality of the materials, the strength of the design and the way every element worked together.

At the centre of the stand, Gommaire required a bespoke pine bonsai that would complement the furniture while becoming a defining feature of the space.

Designing at an Exceptional Scale

Standing more than four metres high, with a canopy stretching six and a half metres across, the bonsai required a carefully fabricated structure to achieve the proportions specified in the brief.

We built the framework in house, giving us complete control over the shape of the trunk, the positioning of the branches and the overall silhouette. This allowed us to create a tree that felt appropriately scaled for the stand while ensuring that its considerable size did not overwhelm the surrounding furniture.

The structure was designed to blend in with the environment, supporting Gommaire’s wider focus on organic shapes, natural materials and balanced interiors.

Building Character into Every Branch

Over two weeks, the steel framework was gradually concealed beneath layers of individually positioned branches. Each section of the canopy was considered separately to avoid creating a finish that appeared too uniform or manufactured.

The cloud pads were produced in different sizes and arranged with varied spacing. These subtle differences were essential to the character of the finished tree. Repeating the same shape throughout the canopy would have removed the natural variation that gives a bonsai its distinctive and authentic appearance.

By treating every branch as part of the wider composition, we were able to create a centrepiece that reflected Gommaire’s own design approach, where individual elements come together to form one strong organic concept.

Considered from Every Viewpoint

As the bonsai occupied the centre of the stand, it needed to look convincing from every direction. Throughout the manufacturing process, we repeatedly stepped back to review the structure, assess its balance and make small adjustments.

Branch positions, spacing and proportions were refined until the tree felt natural from each viewpoint. This detailed process ensured that the bonsai worked not only as a dramatic focal point, but also as an integral part of the overall exhibition design.

The completed installation brought together scale, beauty and natural character, creating a centrepiece that supported Gommaire’s visual identity and its commitment to Organic Living.