creative studio ARCHIEE has recently showcased the ‘pleat luster’ project, an installation which is both a product and element of scenography for an exhibition titled ‘tradition and high technology’. this event took place at maison de la culture du japon à paris, between the 22nd of november and the 3rd of december 2016.

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
pleat luster exterior view, combining traditional japanese byobu and lighting technologies
all images © jun yasui

 

 

ARCHIEE has been asked to separately and equally exhibit artisanal products selected from thirteen different japanese prefectures. consequently, the studio has designed a showcase and exhibition panel for each item. being in the entrance hall of maison de la culture du japon, the installation reflects an intimate internal space which is sheltered from public noise. this was achieved by composing each booth in a circle, also served as a way of giving the visitor a panoramic view of the exhibition.

 

 

ARCHIEE – pleat luster, maison de la culture du japon à paris
video courtesy of ARCHIEE

 

 

as the scenography needed to be set up within three hours, the challenge was to design a system that is easy to transport and quick to set up. this led to an installation with folding screens, referring to the traditional japanese byobu which is composed of two panels with a vertical junction;  it is opened to form a V-shape in plan for stability. 

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
the scenography is set up like folding screens, referring to the traditional japanese byobu system

 

 

the byobu system provides all required elements for the exhibition,  including partitions, information panels, showcases and integrated lighting. hence, this collapsable product is known as pleat luster and the folding technique is applied to both white screens and black showcases. in order to allow the screen panels to rotate 360 degrees, a necessary function given the screens are divided into 4 panels, ARCHIEE further developed the traditional paper hinge system. by using fabric instead of paper for the hinges, the team was able to create enough stability.

 

 

ARCHIEE – pleat luster, maison de la culture du japon à paris, Paris, FR
video courtesy of ARCHIEE

 

 

finally, as a strong expression of the theme of combining tradition and high-technology, ARCHIEE decides to use LED lights directly into the folding screens. as the cabling for the LEDs became possible thanks to the fabric hinges, every surface is covered with the same fabric to give an elegant lighting effect. the chosen textile allows many delicate movements and provides a soft texture. 

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
booth unit includes information panels, showcases and integrated lighting

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
internal space creates a panoramic experience of the exhibition

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
by using fabric instead of paper for the hinges, ARCHIEE was able to provide enough stability to the structure

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
the exhibition includes artisinal products from thirteen different japanese prefectures

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
joint detail 

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
when the structure is folded, all elements fit into 900 x 900mm modules, as the japanese traditional space unit

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
the folding technique is applied to both the white screens and black showcases

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
bottom detail

ARCHIEE's pleat luster scenography at maison de la culture du japon in paris
ARCHIEE pleat lusters detail view

 

 

project info: 

 

architects: archiee / yusuke kinoshita and daisuke sekine
client: clair paris (centre japonais des collectivites locales)
location: maison de la culture du japon, paris, france

 

 

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

 

edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom