Distilling the experience of the forest
This project, led by Tokyo-based practice Yuko Nagayama Associates aims to recreate the experience of standing in a forest and looking up at the surroundings through three transparent, teardrop-shaped tents. It is part of the Hokuto Art Program, which held in 2021 for visitors to experience various forms of art, architecture, film, music, and culture in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The tents were placed in a grove of silver birch trees at the Kiyoharu Art Village, which was established in 1983 on the site of an elementary school.
The architects started by using 3D scans to map the environment, including the location of the trees. and took into account environmental factors such as the direction of branches and the extent of leaves in determining the appropriate size, height, and placement of the tents. The teardrop-shaped structures are designed to fit snugly between the trees, with the pointed end narrowing to squeeze through the branches that widen as they go up. These are reminiscent of the Okiagari Koboshi, a Japanese roly-poly toy.
The three tents face different directions and serve different functions, one for sleeping, one for gathering, and one for contemplation. The tents are slightly buried in the ground, and the excavated soil is used to weigh down the drop-shaped structures, allowing them to tilt in various directions depending on the balance of air and weight, while remaining stable. The transparent surfaces have a frosted finish, which organically blends with the greenery, creating a unique atmosphere in the woodland landscape.
Upon entering the tents, the viewer’s gaze is naturally drawn upwards to the top of the droplet, where the surrounding landscape is distorted in a circular fashion. This distinct vantage point allows for the creation of a new set of parameters through which the viewer experiences light, air, space, movement, and natural forms. As a result, the project aims to increase awareness and understanding of the forest, encouraging visitors to gain new perspectives on this natural environment.
Project: HOKUTO ART PROGRAM ed.1 / Location: Yamanashi, Kiyoharu Art Colony / Architect: Yuko Nagayama Associates / Construction: ROOVICE / Cooperation: ARCHI HATCH, INTERIORS inc., SOLSO, TSP TAIYO, Inc., DAIKO ELECTRIC CO.,LTD. / Use: exhibition / Exhibition period: 2021.10.30~2021.12.12 / Photograph: ©Daici Ano (courtesy of the architect)
