The AEAJ Landscape Platform, designed as the new facility for the Japan Fragrance Environment Association, takes the shape of a tree, with the scent of wood as its central theme. It is constructed from small sections of Japanese cypress wood (105mm × 105mm) assembled into an overall tree form, enclosed within a glass box. This glass enclosure is infused with the fragrance of wood, creating an immersive aromatic experience throughout the entire building.
The primary structure features a steel frame; however, the steel components have been minimized in size to closely match the small cross-sectional dimensions of the wooden parts. This design choice allows the steel to seamlessly blend with the intricate, granular texture of the wood.
The platform’s structure resembles a balanced toy, providing unobstructed panoramic views of the expansive forest that lies before the sacred palace. A key focus during the design process was to merge small wooden elements, crafting a form with soft, blurred edges. This approach contrasts sharply with Kenzo Tange’s National Yoyogi Gymnasium, which stretches boldly over the railway tracks.
Project Drawings
△ General Layout Plan
△ Plan View
△ Elevation Drawing
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
△ Section Diagram
Project Information
Architect: Kengo Kuma Architecture Urban Design Firm
Area: 491 m²
Project Year: 2023
Photographer: Masaki Hamada (kkpo)
Design Team: Minoru Yokoo, Yutaro Ota*, Nanako Adachi*, Yohei Mochizuki, Fumiya Kaneko, Yoo Shiho, Kyoko Mase
Construction Team: Matsushita Industry
Collaborator: Jiangshiri Structural Design Firm
Equipment Engineering Design: Kankyo Engineering
Lighting Design Team: Daguang Electric Co., Ltd
Location: Shibuya City, Japan
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