We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Kotoaki Asano about their original and creative Movable pavilion design work. Kotoaki Asano is an award-winning architectural designer, that makes our world a better place with their original movable pavilion works.
Kotoaki Asano ("KA") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Three cubes in the forest Movable pavilion. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
KA : It is the design of the movable arbor. The contrast between simple outer shapes as the cubes and the internal spaces which has many different kinds.
KA : It is comparison of the concise nature of the appearance and the richness of the internal spaces. The cube is an important subject for me for a long time. Small cubes enclose various interior spaces. Also, cubes are movable, and cubes have ambiguous implications at each place installed.
KA : I want to increase the variations of the movable cube-shaped rooms.
KA : I nursed the idea for years. For the real production, it took several months. For further improvement, the study is continued after that.
KA : This was not requested from a specific client. Using an open call for participants of the KOBE Biennale, it came true to realize a longtime idea. This realization product is owned by an individual afterwards. I think about future development system.
KA : This product was manufactured by my own responsibility. In actual production, it was produced and installed by me and Nishizawa Co., Ltd.. This idea will continue to evolve for a long time. I will meet an individual client and, for an individual client, want to design it one by one.
KA : I want to find the possibility of a New Architecture, , which can not fit in a conventional Architecture. In architectural design, I have cubes and combinations thereof as subjects. In additional, I thought that movable cubes would produce festival spaces at its each location.
KA : In Japan's ancient space concept, there is an idea that the smallest temporary space encompasses the richest spatial nature. Contrast of the brevity of the appearance and the richness of the interior space. Mobility. Then it is a device that gives many meanings wealthily to urban space. (an art work and a playground equipment and small room)
KA : The unspecified number of people. Particularly, children and families. An owner / manager should preferably be a public local government, if possible. As actual users, I assume young and old people (especially, children and families).
KA : The ease of movement by the truck, because of the external form of the cube. Game characteristics. Ambiguity. (art works, playground equipments, small rooms.) Advanced design characteristics. Fun of the internal spaces.
KA : Because I thought that the handsome appearance of the cube included the characteristic of this small architecture. I tried to represent accurately the content of the design. In addition, I tried to express poetic implications.
KA : Using models and drawings, I pushed forward our design. In addition, I went to the construction company and repeated many meetings. In actual production, we attached cloth, board, steel deck, glass, etc to steel frame.
KA : The appearance of the cube. The degree of leaning. Design characteristics of the interior. Contrast between the simple appearance of cubes and the interior filled with diversity. Furthermore, movable cubes will liven up each place installed. And, the ambiguous spatial nature (playthings, waiting rooms, meditation rooms, public furniture).
KA : First of all, I got advices from a structural expert. Also, actual production was carried out under the cooperation of the construction company(Nishizawa Co., Ltd.).
KA : Technology was particularly important in the sequence of production, transportation and installation. We do not use the high-technology, but the technology raises comfort and safety.
KA : I set cubes up for KOBE Biennale and observed situations to have people really spend there, and found improvement points. Also, before the actual production, I repeated the verification with models. Furthermore, although cubes are still set up in the forest now, I am taking data of usage situation and aging change.
KA : The point of concern is safety when the unspecified number of people uses three cubes. In addition, it is cost. Then, the problem of durability of materials.
KA : I think that it is a design that is internationally acceptable. And, in order to actually enter the international market.
KA : I thought that the than expected unspecified number of people could use three cubes heuristically. How can people use three cubes safely for a long time in public places? I learned about the durability of materials etc.
KA : Thank you for appropriate questions. I thank you heartily. I think that many matters are covered by questions from you.
