Shi-An is a movable tea house constructed for the Japanese Culture EXPO 2016 at the Daidokoro in Nijo-Jo Castle UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kyoto Japan. Nijo-Jo Castle is known as one of the most prestigious flat land castle constructed in 1603 at the beginning of EDO era by Ieyashu Tokugawa.

First Award | RTFA 2017 Awards
Category: Pop-Ups & Temporary (Built)

©Katagiri Architecture+Design

This tea house is inspired by the beauty of transientness which represents Japanese sense of values towards space and environment.
By using solely “Washi” paper as a structural element, the materiality elaborates a contemporary space in tradition.

©Katagiri Architecture+Design

In order to stabilize this fragile paper material, the Origami methodology is utilized to obtain a structural stiffness as well as a joint mechanism as a modular system to assemble its body.
500mm x 1000mm papers are folded 8 times to form a single unit with 2 pockets and 2 arms which allow them to be assembled without any glues, but just simply slotting in to each other.
This simple connection detail enables the pavilion to construct and dismount quickly and easily by anyone and anywhere without fixed foundations.

©Katagiri Architecture+Design

In addition, the origami paper masonry structure can transform its composition and shape flexibly by different way of stacking methods to accommodate various activities.

The cellular structure metabolizes its own body like living creatures for continuous adaptation to surrounding environments and its uses.

This nomadic small tea house engages the spatial experience embodying the idea of Japanese simplified beauty which addresses momentality and intangibility in nature.