Kengo Kuma is a Japanese architect and is known for combining Japanese architecture with modern construction technologies. His buildings are conceived of highly innovative structures and are highly influenced by natural materials to blend in with their surroundings. His latest work has all those traits and relies on a single stacked column of boards to support a tree-like cafe overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Some of the architects’ other works include a glowing cold climate house that uses a double skin membrane to promote convection.
He was inspired by the Japanese wooden toy Cidori and made a latticed research center based on it. There is an art museum currently under production based on interlocking stacked wooden boxes. The design is inspired by a tree and uses a stack of cedar blocks 8cm high and 8 cm wide as a trunk to form the central supporting column. The firm says that these blocks have been arranged randomly.
This is what makes it possible for it to support the entire roof that spreads out over 142 square meters. This means there is nothing outside to block the magnificent view. We can be sure that tree-like cafe will be a huge attraction to the general populace.
