vo trong nghia celebrates TOTO gallery MA's 30th anniversary with bamboo forest pavilion

vietnamese architecture firm vo trong nghia (VTN) have completed their first project in japan, a bamboo pavilion constructed for tokyo’s TOTO GALLERY·MA. celebrating the institution’s 30th anniversary, the structure’s bamboo stalks were treated using traditional methods before being assembled on-site.

the pavilion is vo trong nghia architects first project in japan
all images by yoshifumi moriya / nacása & partners

throughout the project’s construction at TOTO, four VTN staff collaborated with volunteer students. the designers sought to demonstrate how to create bamboo structures using only pegs and rope, circumventing the need for metal joints. over time, the involvement of more than 50 international volunteers turned construction into an engaging three-week long event.

the project has been constructed for tokyo’s TOTO gallery MA

the pavilion is a pure bamboo structure composed of three primary elements: grids, arches, and boxes. two intersecting grids create the volume, while 11 arches are inserted to establish a series of open spaces. finally, 31 boxes are used to solidify the whole structure, containing living bamboo vegetation.

the structure’s bamboo stalks were treated using traditional methods before being assembled on-site

throughout the project’s construction period, four vietnamese staff collaborated with volunteer students

the designers sought to demonstrate how to create bamboo structures using only pegs and rope

the involvement of more than 50 international volunteers turned construction into an engaging event

the pavilion is a pure bamboo structure composed of three primary elements: grids, arches, and boxes

the pavilion celebrates the institution’s 30th anniversary

project info:

name: bamboo forest
practice: vo trong nghia architects
principals: vo trong nghia + kosuke nishijima
architects: kuniko onishi, nguyen tat dat, takahito yamada
bamboo construction leader: nguyen ba tuong
completed: october, 2015
location: tokyo, japan
site area: 97 sqm
client: TOTO gallery MA
photography: yoshifumi moriya (nacása & partners inc.)