michele de lucchi sculpts wood & bronze loggia for 21

Roppongi Rokken: Sei Case exhibition by michele de lucchi

Japanese gallery 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT has launched Roppongi Rokken: Sei Case, an exhibition by contemporary Italian architect, designer, and artist Michele De Lucchi. Held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3, the project encompasses his sculpture series Logge, featuring three wooden and three bronze lodge prototypes, revealed for the very first time to the public. A cutting-edge creator, De Lucchi has always explored new forms by creating art derived from his 20-year passion for handiwork. He conducts experiments using numerous creative processes, from the selection of materials to the final finishes. The vitality propelling his artwork is also a driving force for speculation and definition of new notions of architecture, as seen in this exhibition.

architect and designer Michele De Lucchi and and Loggia in bronzo 3, bronze, 2024 | image © Masaya Yoshimura

joining three wooden and three bronze loggia sculptures

The concept behind Roppongi Rokken: Sei Case originated in a dialogue Michele De Lucchi held with Issey Miyake in 2018 and has been specially designed for Gallery 3. Sei Case, meaning six houses, joins three wooden and three bronze lodges, installed together with an artistic video directed by Victor Kossakovsky to highlight the architect’s philosophy. According to 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, the architect expressed his curiosity toward the word Roppongi, referring to the venue’s district. In fact, folk stories trace back the word to six samurai residences that once existed in the district. This coincidence struck him — six lodges, six samurai residences — and inspired the first half of the title, Roppongi Rokken.

installation view at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT Gallery 3 | image © Masaya Yoshimura

exploring italian and japanese traditions at 21_21 design sight

Michele De Lucchi installed the six lodges on oak pedestals treated with acetyl oxidation to enhance stability, water resistance, and preservation. The pedestals were designed by the architect himself and realized by UniFor, a group that has long supported his work. ‘Wood and bronze are among the oldest and noblest materials used by humankind. We have used them to build civilizations and deepen humanity,’ shares De Lucchi. Each prototype of Roppongi Rokken: Sei Case incorporates elements of traditional Japanese sliding screens (shoji partitions) combined with windowed walls of European houses. This could be described as the architect’s approach to bridging Japanese and Italian traditions, which are intrinsically different yet share a similarly deep respect for the crafts and artisans.

For Michele De Lucchi, this series traces an unrestricted journey into the imagination of spaces where people can live. It is an investigation into permeable environments through which external worlds can be adopted. His trajectory liberates from conventional notions of architecture. ‘Loggia reminds me of traditional Japanese tea houses, but also avant-garde architecture which extends inside/outside spatial continuities. In order for the ephemerality of human life to coexist with the extraordinary power of nature, some relationship between architecture, people and nature is becoming increasingly essential. We grope towards new ways of living.’ On the occasion of Roppongi Rokken: Sei Case, Michele De Lucchi will give a special Gallery Talk about the philosophy and vision for the future. The exhibition will be on view from September 20th to October 14th, 2024.