kengo kuma devises ‘tsumiki’, a system of stackable wooden modules
image © ikunori yamamoto

 

 

 

in collaboration with ryuichi sakamoto’s forest conservation organization more trees, architect kengo kuma has has designed a set of triangular-shaped modular pieces. called ‘tsumiki’ — a name that means ‘wooden blocks’ in japanese — the individual components can be stacked and assembled in a variety of ways, allowing the user to create original sculptures.

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
the tsumiki pavilion is a temporary structure erected in tokyo’s midtown park
image © ikunori yamamoto

 

 

 

during tokyo design week 2015, kengo kuma used this same concept to design the tsumiki pavilion — a temporary structure erected in tokyo’s midtown park. in addition to the pyramidal installation, individual pieces were arranged in a semi-circle, varying in scale from large to small. the ‘tsumiki’ elements are made from japanese cedar, and manufactured using wood certified by the forest stewardship council.

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
individual pieces were arranged in a semi-circle
image © ikunori yamamoto

kengo kuma tsumiki designboom
visitors were encouraged to interact with the individual modules
image © designboom

kengo kuma tsumiki designboom
the wooden pieces vary in scale from large to small
image © designboom

kengo kuma tsumiki designboom
guests to the park can walk under the installation
image © designboom

kengo kuma tsumiki designboom
the structure includes ten stacked layers
image © designboom

kengo kuma tsumiki designboom
detail highlighting the structural form
image © designboom

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
the project was developed in collaboration with forest conservation organization ‘more trees’
image © ikunori yamamoto

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
‘tsumiki’ translates as ‘wooden blocks’ in japanese
image © ikunori yamamoto

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
the components can be stacked and assembled in a variety of ways
image © ikunori yamamoto

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
a series of original sculptures
image © ikunori yamamoto

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
a camel (left) and dog (right)
image © ikunori yamamoto

kengo kuma tsumiki pavilion tokyo design week triangle-shaped wooden blocks designboom
kengo kuma’s tsumiki design will soon be available to buy in japan
image © ikunori yamamoto

 

 

project info:

 

tsumiki pavilion design: kengo kuma and associates, kengo kuma and shuhei kamiya
organizer: moretrees
structural engineer: ejiri structural engineers, noriyasu ejiri
lighting design: izumi okayasu
construction: TSP taiyo