Woods of Net / Tezuka Architects

Woods of Net / Tezuka Architects / TIS & PARTNERS, photo by Abel Erazo

During this last few months we have presented you several works by the japanese office Tezuka Architects. The houses have very strong concepts, tied to different ways of inhabiting these projects designed specifically for each client.

Now we present you Woods of Net, a permanent pavilion for japanese net artist Toshiko Horiuchi Macadam, in collaboration with structural engineers TIS & PARTNERS.

The pavilion is located at the Hakone Open-Air Museum, a unique open museum located in one of the most visited tourist spots in Japan. Woods of Net was added to the collection of art works as part of their 40th anniversary.

After the break, the architects description of the pavilion with photos by Abel Erazo.

Woods of Net / Tezuka Architects / TIS & PARTNERS, photo by Abel Erazo

This is a permanent pavilion for a net artist, Toshiko Horiuchi Macadam. The artist knitted the net entirely by hands, which is designed for children to crow in, roll around, and jump on the net. It was easy for us to see the artwork being outside even when it cannot be exposed to rain or ultraviolet light. We wanted to design a space as soft as the forest where the boundary between outside and inside disappears. The space attracts people like campfire. The children play inside of the net just as fire and parents sit around and lay on the woods.

Woods of Net / Tezuka Architects / TIS & PARTNERS, photo by Abel Erazo

The structure is entirely composed of timbers without any metal parts. 320 cubic meter of timber members are used and there is nothing same among all the 589 members. The latest structural program was developed for the pavilion, but the joint techniques are derived from thousands years old Japanese wooden temples in Nara and Kyoto. As long as the proper maintenance is done, it is capable of existing over 300 years. This is the oldest and the latest structure in the world.

Woods of Net / Tezuka Architects / TIS & PARTNERS, photo by Abel Erazo