SCROLL HUT in Tokyo, Japan by EP3

Article source: EP3

OUTLINE

This project is a self-build pavilion on campus. Responding to the light, it shows unique morphing between different geometries. One is the fern, biological swirl form, and the other is the roof, architectural triangular form. These traditional design motifs seamlessly merge into a livable architecture by using today’s electronic technologies.

During the school semester, it usually stands on the open floor between classrooms, and students
take breaks inside of its space, Image Courtesy © Yuji Nakajima

• Architects: EP3
• Project: SCROLL HUT
• Location: Tokyo, Japan
• Photography: Yuji Nakajima
• Concept and Art Direction: Hiroyuki Futai
• Structural Design: WeiLi Low
• Programing: Masato Takeuchi
• Video Making: Kazuyuki Miyamoto
• Date:
  • Design and Prototyping: 07.2012-03.2014
  • Production and Installation : 04.2014-10.2014

During the school semester, it usually stands on the open floor between classrooms, and students
take breaks inside of its space, Image Courtesy © Yuji Nakajima

DESIGN

Our design approach is biomimicry, emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies. This project focussed on the manner in which a fern frond emerges. So, how is the manner applied to architectural space? The answer is this pavilion with the transformation system between bracket lights and a roof.

After each semester, it temporally is moved out and set on the grass between school buildings, and
students enjoy playing around its space,
Image Courtesy © Yuji Nakajima

The body is assembled from 40 sets of scroll system with sensors and actuators. During the day, the scrolls roll out and become the translucent roof shade of the pavilion. The photo sensor of each system is monitoring the daylight shifts of its surroundings, and the scroll is rolling out and back individually by a stepping mortar. At night, the scrolls roll back to the ends and work for bracket lights of the pavilion.

After each semester, it temporally is moved out and set on the grass between school buildings, and
students enjoy playing around its space, Image Courtesy © Yuji Nakajima

During the school semester, it usually stands on the open floor between classrooms, and students take breaks inside of its space. After each semester, it temporally is moved out and set on the grass between school buildings, and students enjoy playing around its space.

Transformation System, Image Courtesy © EP3

TECHNOLOGY

Once, architecture was a symbol of our new life. It was an integrated figure of arts and technology of the age. But today, new products and network services with sensors and actuators took over the role from architecture.

Applications of digital technologies to architecture have been limited to design processes on computer and fabrications with CNC so far. Even today, most of the built environments are separated from the technologies and still static. Just superficial manipulations, such as projection mapping and facade engineering are put on the surface of buildings.

The challenge of this project is the integration of digital technology and architectural space. How dose architecture dynamically respond to the surroundings? How is the interaction possible physically and effectively?

Our project is an experiment of architecture as the integration of arts and technology of our age. It is small but actually built, and physically interacts with its surroundings. The manner is not partial nor superficial, but is holistic and spatial.

Tags: Japan, Tokyo

Categories: Hut, Pavilion

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2015 at 6:17 am. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.