wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects’ street furniture in japan

built for temporary use, the installation is simple yet sturdy, made from steel pipes, plywood, and lightweight fabric.

Yohei Ikai edited by thomai tsimpou October 3, 2024 3 min

icai architects introduces street furniture installation in japan

icai architects introduces the Scape for Every Moment street furniture installation, placed in front of Yokohama City Hall, Japan during the winter of 2023. Situated in a small park cornered by skyscrapers, the structure features circular, overlapping top boards and delicate organdie curtains, creating a space for community interaction. The varying heights of the boards encourage different activities, while the curtains separate spaces without creating barriers. Built for temporary use, the installation is simple but, at the same time, sturdy, made from steel pipes, plywood, and lightweight fabric.

The furniture embraces the natural elements of light and wind, which constantly transform the appearance of the organdie curtains. Throughout the day, sunlight changes the curtains’ opacity—appearing bright and opaque under strong midday sun, yet more transparent on cloudy days. At sunset, reflections from surrounding buildings cause the curtains to glow, while at night, they shimmer under streetlights. The wind brings the installation to life, shifting the curtains and creating ever-changing visual effects.

wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects' street furniture in japan - 1 — all images by courtesy of Munetaka Onodera

scape for every moment remains stable even with strong winds

Located in the Minatomirai district, a redeveloped port area known for its high-rise buildings and historical significance in Japan’s modernization, icai architects introduces soft, flowing elements into a rigid urban landscape. Visitors can lie on the large top boards, looking up through the softly moving curtains at the sky and nearby high-rises, fostering a unique experience that encourages connection with nature and other people. The Japanese firm prioritizes ease of assembly, cost-effectiveness, and structural stability, anticipating strong winds from the nearby sea. Steel pipe columns and frames beneath the top boards act as weights, ensuring the structure remains stable even when people interact with the curtains or other elements. Despite its temporary nature, the installation is durable and responsive to environmental forces.

wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects' street furniture in japan - 2 — designed by icai architects, Scape for Every Moment was placed in front of Yokohama City Hall

wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects' street furniture in japan - 3 — situated in a small park cornered by skyscrapers

wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects' street furniture in japan - 4 — the structure features circular, overlapping top boards and delicate organdie curtains

wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects' street furniture in japan - 5 — creating a space for community interaction

wind-light-organdie-curtains-icai-architects-street-furniture-japan-designboom-1800-02 — made from steel pipes, plywood, and lightweight fabric

wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects' street furniture in japan - 6 — curtains separate spaces without creating barriers

wind and light flow through organdie curtains of icai architects' street furniture in japan - 7 — built for temporary use, the installation is simple yet sturdy

wind-light-organdie-curtains-icai-architects-street-furniture-japan-designboom-1800-03 — the varying heights of the boards encourage different activities

the furniture embraces the natural elements of light and wind natural elements constantly transform the appearance of the organdie curtains throughout the day, sunlight changes the curtains’ opacity appearing bright and opaque under strong midday sun, yet more transparent on cloudy days at sunset, reflections from surrounding buildings cause the curtains to glow at night, they shimmer under streetlights the wind brings the installation to life, shifting the curtains and creating ever-changing visual effects located in the Minatomirai district, a redeveloped port area known for its high-rise buildings visitors can lie on the large top boards, looking up through the softly moving curtains at the sky

project info:

name: Scape for Every Moment
designer: icai architects | @_yoheikai, some/to
location: Yokohama city, Japan
structural design: ARSTR, Yohei Tomioka
textile design: someto
construction: Kikushima Co.
photography: Munetaka Onodera | @munetaka_onodera

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