Structural beauty in architecture and wallets

The Principles of Firmness, Utility, and Beauty

In the 1st century BC, the Roman architect Vitruvius organized the essential points of architecture into firmness, utility, and beauty (firmitas, utilitas, venustas).
SYRINX wallets are also designed with this architectural framework in mind.

Firmness, Utility, and Beauty in Architecture

Firmness
This is not merely about being unbreakable, but about the flow of forces being intact and the structure contributing to the establishment of space. The structural elements are not mere decoration; they support the space, create order, and provide a sense of security. The structural beauty of architecture implies that the structure is not hidden but is utilized within the space.

Utility
This refers to human movement, gaze, location, and how things are used. There should be no unreasonableness for the intended use; it should be rational. Architecture only comes into being and is evaluated when it is used.

Beauty
This is not mere ornamentation. It encompasses proportion, rhythm, tension of surfaces, and light and shadow. It includes the expression of materials and the overall presence. It is an order to which human sensibility responds. Architecture that only satisfies firmness and utility will not be loved for long. When beauty is added, it gains a persuasive power that transcends time.

Firmness, Utility, and Beauty in Wallets

So, what happens when we apply these three principles to wallets?

Utility is straightforward: storage, visibility, retrieval, grip, and portability. It means reducing hesitation in actions and shortening necessary movements. Functional beauty is often discussed in this domain.

Beauty is also easy to understand: proportions, size, seams, margins, and the expression of the leather. It's the dignified presence conveyed the moment it's held.

The problem is firmness. The firmness of a wallet is not merely about making it durable.
Leather, like wood or concrete, is a profound material that includes tactile sensations and changes over time.
While it's possible to insert core materials to fix its shape, that would only utilize the superficial properties of the leather.
To use an analogy from food, clothing, and shelter, it's like hiding the flavor of ingredients with seasonings in cooking. Or like covering up the structure of a building with a different material.
Even if the appearance is neat, some of the material's inherent charm is lost.

SYRINX's Structural Beauty

When SYRINX uses the term structural beauty for wallets, the focus is here.
The material's properties function as a structure, enabling the form and operation. In other words, the tension, flexibility, friction, and restorative power of the leather are directly utilized in the product and its ease of use. We believe this is where the structural beauty of a leather product lies.

The policy of minimizing the use of core materials is based on this idea. If a thinly skived piece of leather is sandwiched between core materials, the shape can be easily stabilized. However, I want to establish the product using only leather, leveraging the inherent properties of the leather itself as much as possible. This is the philosophy of structural beauty.

For example, the inner hook of the Hitoe Fold is an iconic example where these three principles intersect. Without relying on metal fittings, it functions as a fastener using only leather, preventing cards from falling out and refining movements. It avoids increasing elements, consolidates roles, resolves contradictions by leveraging material properties, and converges into a serene presence.

A Wallet Aimed for by an Architect

I feel that architecture and wallets, despite their different scales, aim for the same destination.
Rather than merely speaking of beauty on the surface, it's about fulfilling utility, refining firmness, and honing beauty.
This is why I design wallets as an architect, and it is the form of beauty that SYRINX strives for.

(Text by Hirotaka Sato | SYRINX Representative and Designer)