Musashi University Building 2 Renewal
At Musashi University, renowned for its rigorous small-group education and lush green campus. We designed the Forest Dining as a central place for student’s communication.
On the front façade, a large cantilevered canopy with laminated cedar lumber creates the Komorebi Terrace (dappled sunlight terrace). A forest aerial walkway, designed by Professor Yoshichika Uchida, mentor to Kuma, which is a defining element of the campus identity, penetrates the Forest Dining, giving rise to a space in which interior and exterior are seamlessly unified in a manner befitting the verdant campus.
The forest arch, crafted from Douglas-fir plywood, is a homage to Yoshichika Uchida’s signature approach to wood and light, delicate detailing, bringing rhythm and a sense of lightness to the space.
The panels that make up the forest arch also serve as exhibition surfaces, allowing the dining area to simultaneously function as a museum.
The ceiling and walls further serve as a large, seamless projection screen, transforming the space into a setting for diverse experiences and learning that extend beyond dining.
