kei atsumi on bridging ancient japanese joinery & 3D printing at dubai design week pavilion

mitsubishi jisho design unveils the warp at dubai design week

Encircled by Dubai’s towering skyscrapers and the hum of its design district, The Warp pavilion transports visitors through time, from ancient Japanese traditions to the emirate’s futuristic cityscape. Mitsubishi Jisho Design architects Kei Atsumi and Motoya Iizawa unveiled the immersive installation — envisioned as a zen Japanese tea garden — at the tenth Dubai Design Week, activated by a series of curated events including matcha tea ceremonies and design workshops.

The wooden pavilion’s core concept strives to bridge centuries-old Japanese craftsmanship with the latest in 3D printing, as Kei Atsumi tells designboom while we observe a charming tea ceremony. ‘There are over 900 unique pieces in this pavilion, each with a different shape and curve. This complexity is only possible with computational design,’ says the architect. All components were assembled using a Japanese joinery system, allowing for easy assembly, disassembly, and relocation. ‘Historically, this system was used in wooden shrines and temples… Here, we have adapted this approach for a more complex, modern shape,’ he continues.

all images by DUA Photography Studio

a portal through ancient japan to dubai’s futuristic cityscape

The Warp’s journey begins at the pebbled garden which weaves through to the tea house, an intimate wooden enclave that gently twists to echo the Arabian sand dunes. ‘You can really feel the Japanese spirit as you enter,’ Kei Atsumi tells designboom. ‘And once inside the tea house, you’re transported into the future, with the Burj Khalifa at the front and the Japanese garden behind.’ Entering through the nijiriguchi — a traditional small, low passage — visitors can partake in a matcha ceremony accompanied by a Japanese tea master.

Beyond fostering connections between time, history, and geographies, the concept of The Warp reinforces Mitsubishi Jisho Design’s Regenerative Wood technique — a circular production system that seeks to reintegrate waste into the forestry industry. ‘Typically, when using wood for architecture, furniture, or other products, only around 50% of the material is used — the rest is waste,’ Atsumi notes. ‘Here, we’re utilizing that and turning it into something sustainable and beautiful.’ The entire structure is then 3D printed from a wood composite that utilizes wood by-products. A blend of 30% recycled sawdust and 70% bioplastic was utilized to shape each of the curved panels that were connected without the use of any glue, nails, or metal fittings.

Mitsubishi Jisho Design architects Kei Atsumi and Motoya Iizawa unveil The Warp

crafted from 3d printing and traditional wood joinery

Kei Atsumi’s vision for The Warp merges traditional craftsmanship with computational design, exemplifying what he describes as ‘a new language of architectural expression.’ Computational modeling played a crucial role in generating the small, double-curved panels, each designed to slot seamlessly into, and support, the overall structure. ‘Modeling Japanese joinery in 3D is intricate,’ says Atsumi. ‘Only with computational design and 3D printing could we achieve this level of complexity and precision.’

on view at the tenth Dubai Design Week

The Warp transports visitors through time, from ancient Japanese traditions to Dubai’s futuristic cityscape

activated by a traditional Japanese tea ceremony

shaped from over 900 unique curved wood panels

‘This complexity is only possible with computational design’

visitors enter through the nijiriguchi — a traditional small, low passage

the entire structure is then 3D printed from a wood composite that utilizes waste materials

the curved panels were connected without the use of any glue, nails, or metal fittings

a blend of 30% recycled sawdust and 70% bioplastic       

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project info:

name: The Warp

architect: Kei Atsumi, Motoya Iizawa, Vibha Krishna Kumar, Mitsubishi Jisho Design | @mjd_architecture

program: Dubai Design Week | @dubaidesignweek

dates: November 5th — 10th, 2024

location: Dubai Design District, UAE

photographer: DUA Photography Studio | @dua.photography.studio