vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboomvietnamese architecture firm vo trong nghia (VTN) have completed their first project in japan, a bamboo pavilion constructed for tokyo’s TOTO GALLERY·MA. celebrating the institution’s 30th anniversary, the structure’s bamboo stalks were treated using traditional methods before being assembled on-site.

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
the pavilion is vo trong nghia architects first project in japan
all images by yoshifumi moriya / nacása & partners

 

 

 

throughout the project’s construction at TOTO, four VTN staff collaborated with volunteer students. the designers sought to demonstrate how to create bamboo structures using only pegs and rope, circumventing the need for metal joints. over time, the involvement of more than 50 international volunteers turned construction into an engaging three-week long event.

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
the project has been constructed for tokyo’s TOTO gallery MA

 

 

 

the pavilion is a pure bamboo structure composed of three primary elements: grids, arches, and boxes. two intersecting grids create the volume, while 11 arches are inserted to establish a series of open spaces. finally, 31 boxes are used to solidify the whole structure, containing living bamboo vegetation.

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
the structure’s bamboo stalks were treated using traditional methods before being assembled on-site

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
throughout the project’s construction period, four vietnamese staff collaborated with volunteer students

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
the designers sought to demonstrate how to create bamboo structures using only pegs and rope

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
the involvement of more than 50 international volunteers turned construction into an engaging event

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
the pavilion is a pure bamboo structure composed of three primary elements: grids, arches, and boxes

vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
the pavilion celebrates the institution’s 30th anniversary

 

drawings

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vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
 
vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
 
vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
 
vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
 
vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
 
vo trong nghia architects bamboo forest pavilion toto gallery ma tokyo japan designboom
 

 

project info:

 

name: bamboo forest
practice: vo trong nghia architects
principals: vo trong nghia + kosuke nishijima
architects: kuniko onishi, nguyen tat dat, takahito yamada
bamboo construction leader: nguyen ba tuong
completed: october, 2015
location: tokyo, japan
site area: 97 sqm
client: TOTO gallery MA
photography: yoshifumi moriya (nacása & partners inc.)