SEEP, set against Tokyo's backdrop, mirrors the city's socio-cultural dichotomy between hyper-urbanization and a deep-seated respect for nature.
Japanese culture has a fascination with artificial nature. The project commences with a series of installations that weave natural elements together with industrial artifacts. Drawing inspiration from the ancient art of Ikebana, these installations explore three fundamental themes: the interplay of contrast and harmony, the enduring resilience of nature, and the delicate equilibrium between these elements.
The final product is a permeable pavilion in Tokyo, as a symbol of the harmonious co-existence between artificial and natural elements. Challenging traditional architectural norms, this structure reimagines boundaries between interior and exterior spaces and acknowledges leakage as an inherent aspect rather than a failure.
The pavilion leverages adaptive materials and technologies to create a fluid space that is capable of evolving in response to environmental conditions. It features an innovative primary hydraulic cylinder system that allows for the modulation of vertical movement and structural form, and a secondary hydraulic rod system supports a flexible fabric layer that responds dynamically to the movements of the primary system.
A rain garden collects rainwater, which can be activated by the user. When the user opens the valve, the collected rainwater is pumped into the hydraulic cylinder, causing it to ascend as the space fills with water. As the pressure within the sealed cylinder builds to a sufficient level, a pressure relief valve is triggered, initiating a water spray display.
In this model-scale demonstration, I was unable to achieve the pressure level for the water to spray, resulting in a partial 'failure.'
This gives the pavilion a unique ability to adjust its light conditions, surface temperatures, and humidity, making it a dynamic, collective landscape. Besides, the structure's translucent fabric enables the pavilion to interact visually with its surroundings, capturing shadows and inviting the intrusion of natural elements.
The pavilion thus becomes a dynamic microcosm, offering variations in light conditions, surface temperatures, and humidity. Its translucent fabric captures the shadows of nearby trees while openings in the structure invite natural elements like leaves, petals, and wind. On the ground, there is completely exposed spaces, space that is protected by waterproof fabric, or adorned by water-soaked fabric, dripping slowly onto the earth.
2023 Spring
Tokyo, Japan
Advisor: Jesse Reiser