'melting landscape' installation explores news ways of using snow

‘melting landscape’ by kei kaihoh in collaboration with giulia chiatante and kentaro hayashi is an installation at the venice architecture biennale 2021 of a modern version of yukimuro; a traditional snow method used to preserve food on the cold mountains of japan. in its original setting, the use of snow is connected to a delicate system and the small village of yazuzuka in japan bases its entire economy on a yukimuro. the collected snow is used for a number of activities such as the air conditioning of public buildings, agriculture, food production, and the textile industry.

image © designboom

the installation by kei kaihoh represents research on new ways of using snow, and on new technologies to apply to it. it is part of ‘designing for climate change’ a room at the biennale where architects address this challenge by creating spaces that protect the natural environment and imagining alternative climatic features.

image © designboom

‘melting landscape’ is a study wants to set the basis for the design of the future of these ephemeral landscapes. from valleys in small villages to empty plots and gardens of dense cities, the use of storage methods can generate clean energy and bring attention to this disappearing resource. a new typology of architecture can branch from this process, one that works together with natural phenomena.

image © designboom

image © designboom

image © designboom

 
image © designboom

project info:

name: ‘melting landscape’

location: venice architecture biennale 2021

designers: kei kaihoh of kei kaihoh architects in collaboration with giulia chiatante and kentaro hayashi

materials: snow, insulation, wooden structure, LED screens, deck of cards, weather station