Amin Abbas
The Warp, a pavilion designed by Mitsubishi Jisho Design Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) will be exhibited at Dubai Design Week 2024, from November 5 to 10.
This groundbreaking pavilion focuses on ancient Japanese carpentry techniques with cutting-edge 3D-printing technology. Specially curated events for this exhibit include tea ceremony with a Japanese tea master and workshops on 3D printing.
The Warp reimagines traditional Japanese glue-less wood assembly using 3D-printed sawdust-based filament.
This innovative project by Kei Atsumi, developed over five years, explores the potential of 3D printing in architecture and regenerative design.
Kei Atsumi explained that the pavilion takes visitors on a journey across time and cultures — from the age-old traditions of Japan to Dubai, a city of the future and hub of constant innovation — through a small 32-square-meter space encompassing a tea house and a Japanese garden.
Upon entering the tea house through the nijiriguchi (traditional small, low entrance), visitors are immediately immersed in a wood space characterized by organic twisting curves that represent a leap through space and time, creating the feeling of being warped across centuries.
In the company of the tea master, visitors will enjoy a first-of-its kind experience, savoring tea while reflecting on the fusion of tradition and innovation as they gaze out at the futuristic city of Dubai.
The exhibit itself is made of 900 uniquely shaped 3D-printed panels that reuse sawdust, a waste product of wood processing. The panels are connected using traditional Japanese joinery techniques, allowing for easy assembly on-site without the need for nails or other metal fittings. The design also makes it possible to exhibit the pavilion in other locations in the future.
This production system, which Mitsubishi Jisho Design calls Regenerative Wood, adds value to waste produced during woodworking. Through design, the system reintegrates the waste into the forestry industry, which produces raw materials. In this way, it embodies a truly circular approach to wood.
“The Warp is more than just a pavilion; it is a statement about the future of architecture and design. By blending ancient carpentry with modern 3D printing, we have created a new language of architectural expression.
“The pavilion demonstrates that technology can breathe new life into age-old traditions, offering a vision of a future where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand,” notes Kei Astumi.