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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Unit of MUJI in Tokyo, Japan by Fumihiko Sano

February 12th, 2016 by Sumit Singhal

Article source: Fumihiko Sano

This work was made for the exhibition, “Measuring: This much, That much, How much?” held at 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT from February 20^th to May 30^th, 2015.

I designed this in collaboration with MUJI, using their first furniture product, the steel shelving unit.

First, I began the project by discussing the importance of this steel shelving unit with the designers at MUJI to study what this product meant for them.

Image Courtesy © Daisuke Shima /Nacása&Partners Inc

Architects: Fumihiko Sano / studio PHENOMENON+Ryohin keikaku
Project: Unit of MUJI
Location: 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT, Minato-ku,Tokyo, Japan
Photography: Daisuke Shima / Nacása&Partners Inc
Construction: Fumihiko sano / studio phenomenon
Site area: 13.40m²
Completion: 2/2015

Image Courtesy © Daisuke Shima /Nacása&Partners Inc

The production of this shelf began in 1996. Its measurement, w800×h370mm was set in order to fit into the standard measurement of the central line of many Japanese wooden architecture, which is 3 shaku (910mm) /6shaku (1820mm). This product has established MUJI’s standard module for the products to follow. The steel shelving unit has now been in production for almost 20 years, and has found a place in the Japanese people’s lives with its refined details and simplified assembling process.

Image Courtesy © Daisuke Shima /Nacása&Partners Inc

For this exhibition, I came up with the idea to expand the function of the shelf from just a storage space to a space to live in. The result of this concept is, “MUJI’s measurement,” where the storage and living space is seamlessly unified. By using steel shelving units to build a kind of style commonly seen in Japanese architecture, where the pillars are installed instead of walls for support, I suggested a new perspective on the living environment of Japanese people.

Image Courtesy © Daisuke Shima /Nacása&Partners Inc

In order to assemble this piece of work, I made two shelf boards of different sizes: 820*400* 185 and 820 * 250* 185. By combining several of the two boards of the storage volume, I made a grid the size of 820 * 820 * 185 and set them up on both vertical and horizontal spaces. By removing just two joints of the shelf, I was able to assemble the space without welding anything, and use most of the parts of the existing shelf. The precision and the details of the ready-made product weresaved and utilized in the process. This work created by the composition of steel shelving units introduces an inventive and original use of this product that no one has ever imagined.

Through the space created by this work, I believe I was able to present a new possibility that was hidden within the product itself.

Image Courtesy © Daisuke Shima /Nacása&Partners Inc

Image Courtesy © Fumihiko Sano

: Image Courtesy © Daisuke Shima /Nacása&Partners Inc

: Image Courtesy © Daisuke Shima /Nacása&Partners Inc

: Image Courtesy © Fumihiko Sano

Contact Fumihiko Sano

Tags: Japan, Tokyo

Categories: Extention, Installation

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