Wooden wonder: Kengo Kuma’s new Paris pavilion is inspired by the forest

Staged in the Tuileries Gardens during FIAC, Kengo Kuma's latest architecture folly 'moves with the wind'; just like its Japanese name, Yure, suggests. Made of hundreds of pieces of wood, all different, the 12-meter tall pavilion rises high, gently responding to the flux of air.
'The wooden elements symbolically represent a forest: Kengo Kuma drew on the idea of the 'inhabited tree' to compose this structure,' Philippe Gravier, the man who commissioned the piece, explains. A pioneer, Gravier long had in mind to invite architects into the art world. 'I feel some architects have more talent than conceptual artists today: a cross over between art and architecture seemed like the right move,' he adds.
Faced with his gallery's series of small houses - entitled Small Nomad Houses - one can draw parallels with the works of Donald Judd or Sol Lewitt; last year's FIAC pavilion by Fou Sugimoto for Gravier felt, indeed, like a spatial representation of a Sol Lewitt drawing.
Having in mind to create an exclusive collection of Small Nomad Houses, Gravier sends long hand written letters to some of the world's brightest minds, offering them a carte blanche to design a durable, nomad living structure that can be easily dismantled and doesn't exceed 35 m2 in surface. A structure that is intimate yet remains highly sculptural. As a result, Gravier is working on four different ground-breaking projects with Kengo Kuma this year. No screws, no glue and no bolts were used to create Yure.
'Architects see the Small Nomad Houses as an opportunity to escape their daily practice, as a project, where they can experiment freely. For collectors, on the other hand, the Small Nomad Houses stand out as unique pieces. They are the very essence of architecture today,' Gravier concludes.
The structure stands tall at 12 metres high and it's made of hundreds of pieces of wood
These timber elemends represent a forest; Kuma wanted to create 'an inhabited tree'
No screws, no glue and no bolts were used to create the pavilion
Entitled Yure, the structure litteraly means 'moves with the wind'
INFORMATION
On view from Oct 15th till Nov 5th inside the Tuileries Gardens, Paris
courtesy Galerie Philippe Gravier
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
We explore the world of XPeng, a Chinese brand challenging for market domination in the UK
XPeng is the latest Chinese manufacturer to bring a bevy of BEVs to the UK market, splicing class-leading tech with competitive prices
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Enter Marea Beverly Hills, an Italian restaurant with Californian gusto
Conceptualised by Nusla Design and led by chef PJ Calapa, Marea Beverly Hills brings in a sophisticated dining party ambience to flourishing Camden Drive
By Carole Dixon Published
-
The story behind Pamela Anderson’s dazzling costumes in ‘The Last Showgirl’
‘The Last Showgirl’ costume designer Jacqueline Getty unpacks Pamela Anderson’s outfits in the Gia Coppola-directed movie, which are rooted in the glittering history of the Las Vegas revue
By Zoe Whitfield Published
-
‘The Black woman endures a gravity unlike any other’: Pharrell Williams explores diverse interpretations of femininity in Paris
Pharrell Williams returns to Perrotin gallery in Paris with a new group show which serves as an homage to Black women
By Amy Serafin Published
-
What makes fashion and art such good bedfellows?
There has always been a symbiosis between fashion and the art world. Here, we look at what makes the relationship such a successful one
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
Architecture, sculpture and materials: female Lithuanian artists are celebrated in Nîmes
The Carré d'Art in Nîmes, France, spotlights the work of Aleksandra Kasuba and Marija Olšauskaitė, as part of a nationwide celebration of Lithuanian culture
By Will Jennings Published
-
Out of office: what the Wallpaper* editors have been doing this week
Investing in quality knitwear, scouting a very special pair of earrings and dining with strangers are just some of the things keeping the Wallpaper* team occupied this week
By Bill Prince Published
-
Tom Wesselmann’s enduring influence on pop art goes under the spotlight in Paris
‘Pop Forever, Tom Wesselmann &...’ is on view at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris until 24 February 2025
By Ann Binlot Published
-
Miu Miu’s Women’s Tales film series comes to life for Art Basel Paris
In ‘Tales & Tellers’, interdisciplinary artist Goshka Macuga brings Miu Miu’s Women’s Tales film series for Art Basel Paris to life for the public programme
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
Art Basel returns to Paris: here is everything to see and do
Art Basel Paris 2024 (18 - 20 October 2024) returns, opening at the newly renovated Grand Palais
By Amah-Rose Abrams Published
-
Elmgreen & Dragset explore contemporary masculinity in Paris
We visit Elmgreen & Dragset at their Berlin studio ahead of new exhibition ‘L’Addition’ at Paris’ Musée d’Orsay, a subversive take on the classical form
By Hannah Silver Published