SEKISUI HOUSE – KUMA LAB designed and constructed the installation hida–hida on the exterior facade of the International Exchange Building (Hisao & Hiroko TAKI PLAZA) opened on the Ueno Campus of Tokyo University of the Arts on 15th December. The building designed by Kengo Kuma & Associates is covered with stainless steel mesh on its exterior wall. A total of seven works, including one from SEKISUI HOUSE – KUMA LAB, were installed as part of the “Everchanging Public Art”, a project that utilizes stainless steel mesh as a site for experimentation with various artworks.
hida–hida is a structure created by folding a 42-meter-long strip of Japanese paper made by paper-mâché technique. The subtle texture of Japanese paper reflects the transitions of the environment by catching the sunlight, transmitting light from the building, and swaying with the wind. The project was also an experiment to use Japanese paper in an outdoor environment by applying special treatment to make it water-resistant and durable.
Design and production: KUMA Kengo, HIRANO Toshiki, ANDO Kei, AKIMOTO Kanta
