kengo kuma builds museum made of paper to house antoni clavé archives

kengo kuma and associates has built a private museum using sheets of wire mesh blasted in paper to house the archives of spanish master painter antoni clavé. constructed with the use of these sheets, the building’s interiors are designed to reflect the powerful texture of antoni clavé’s work.

images courtesy of kengo kuma

kengo kuma employed the use of a traditional japanese paper known as washi, characterized for its textural quality and strength, to compliment the interior’s smooth surfaces. used mainly to encase the museum’s central stairwell and the lining of the skylight, the screens create a subtle interplay of light and shadow.

the screens are built by blasting a pulpous form of the paper over expanded aluminum mesh by blasting a pulpous form of the paper over expanded aluminum mesh. during the process of washi making, the mesh sheet is soaked in a starchy liquid made from kozo (mulberry) and sunset hibiscus. various levels of transparency are achieved by controlling and adjusting thickness of the solution and the way the washi is dried.

the clave archive is a private museum housing the works of antoni clavé whose work includes paintings, sculptures, and stage and costume design. born in barcelona in 1913, clavé became known as one of spain’s most celebrated artists of the 20th century, passing away in 2005.