schemata architects installs adaptable display system in tokyo university

‘semi-architecture’ at musashino art university, in tokyo

schemata architects / jo nagasaka designed the new ‘building 16’ for the interior design course at musashino art university, in tokyo. the architects refer to the project as ‘semi-architecture’, describing an unfinished structure that continues to change through modifications made by the users themselves. since buildings in art schools are used by students to produce their works and to hold critiques and presentations, the team designed a system that allows users to move partitions and furniture flexibly to meet their needs.

all images courtesy of kenta hasegawa

an adaptable common system runs throughout building 16

instead of providing perfect ‘white cube’ spaces, schemata architects / jo nagasaka (find more here) designed a common system to install throughout the building, in order to create spaces that would leave room for the young artists to unleash their creativity.

specifically, perforated raceways are suspended from a systematic grid on the ceiling. poles are positioned in the holes in the raceways and connected with each other to create a wall. wiring ducts, smart lights that can be turned on and off individually, and movable reel-type outlets are attached to the raceways, making it easy to increase or decrease the number of rooms. other adjustable systems include a pole system, shelves and lockers that can be moved easily with hand lifters, and stackable worktables that can be reconfigured to suit one’s needs.

drawing influence from the city of paris

this ‘semi-architecture’ project is formed to embody the idea of change, while its appearance transforms every day by the hands of students and teachers. only the minimum amount of finishes —including putty finish on plaster board and rust-proof paint on steel— was applied assuming that students will put in their own finishes according to their needs. signs on the walls and other surfaces are designed so that students can reproduce them using stencils and stamps, assuming that the surfaces will be painted over afterwards.

‘this idea was originally conceived when we were involved in a project in paris,’ shares the team at schemata architects. ‘since many of the buildings in the city are historical, it is almost impossible to change the appearance. but for some reason, the city is filled with a rich variety of people’s activities. (…) one day, we stopped and carefully observed the city of paris. then, we noticed that there were many ingenious temporary structures and systems, including the market tent system consisting of pre-made holes in the ground with poles that can be erected instantly, benches and flowerpots that can be moved using hand lifters, open cafes operating on part of the sidewalk for which they pay rent to the city.’