Pleat Luster, Paris, 2017

Project of a temporary exhibition at the entrance hall of the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris. The challenge was the requirement that the entire structure be transported and installed within a single morning. To meet these constraints, a bespoke folding system was devised whose mechanism was so specific that it was ultimately fabricated by the design team. Every component was designed as a compact module that could be transported in a small truck. The system was inspired by byōbu - movable folding screen -. While traditional screens fold in two parts, the typology was reinterpreted to allow a four-way folding motion, increasing compactness and flexibility. Traditional paper hinges were reengineered using fabric to improve durability while maintaining fluid movement. The translucent fabric surfaces incorporated integrated lighting, allowing the structure and illumination system to become a single element and reducing installation time. The exhibition displays employed the same folding modules, creating a unified system. To accommodate thirteen booths, the modules were arranged in a thirteen-point star-like configuration. This geometry generated luminous niches along the perimeter, enriching the pavilion with unexpected depth and atmosphere.

The resulting architecture popped out as a glowing landscape, rooted in the logic of traditional techniques and contemporary experimental craftsmanship.

Photo : Jun Yasui