terunobu fujimori installs ein stein teahouse on stilts at raketenstation hombroich

famed japanese architect terunobu fujimori is widely known for his peculiar designs, usually with a surreal animated movie feel with oddly organized spaces and rickety-looking structures that would be right at home in an older tim burton film. at the beginning of his career, he was more into research, teaching and was publishing exclusively as a historian. ‘then,’ as arata isozaki said, ‘one day he began to create strange buildings as if he had suddenly gone crazy.’ he was 45 when he developed his first design and since then, he has realized projects that have received strong international attention. in his teahouses, as well as in his large buildings, he uses natural materials and distinguishes himself from common formal languages with stubborn ideas.

all images by hertha hurnaus unless otherwise noted

celebrating his career and his lifelong exploration of tea houses, the stiftung insel hombroich museum in neuss, germany, is presenting the terunobu fujimori. ein stein tea house and other architectures exhibition. developed in collaboration with the japanese architect, the show displays a selection of projects that focus on the tea houses he planned, in particular the ein stein tea house designed for the raketenstation hombroich and its genesis. like other buildings and furniture on display, the tea houses are characterized by the use of natural materials and their relationship to the surrounding landscape.

the ein stein tea house was planned and realized over a year and now forms an exhibit on a scale of 1:1, which will be preserved by the stiftung insel hombroich. it reflects the precise knowledge of the history and principles of the tea ceremony and its very personal interpretation by the architect and historian terunobu fujimori. in particular, natural materials such as untreated robinia trunks and a wooden boarding carbonized by the traditional yakisugi method.