STGK Inc. | studio gen kumagai

A nighttime view of the façade that changes in pattern and intensity with the viewer's movement, simulating the appearance of fluttering sails in the breeze.

Façade of Sails Swaying in the Wind

The “Yokohama Bunka Taiikukan” (Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium), affectionately known as “Buntai” for 58 years since its opening in 1963, was closed due to aging and has been reborn as “Yokohama BUNTAI” in 2024. The new architecture features a large white façade with gentle curves, inspired by the sailing ships floating in Yokohama Port. Our role involved designing the panels that make up this façade and the surrounding landscape.

A key challenge was how to express the design motif of “sails” on the façade. To capture the image of sails swaying in the wind on an architectural scale, we proposed using standard perforated metal panels combined with dot graphics on the wall behind the panels. This creates a moiré effect, producing varying shades that mimic the look of sails moving in the wind. The dot graphics on the wall are meticulously adjusted based on a 3D model of “sails swaying in the wind” created through physical simulation, resulting in a façade that changes in pattern and intensity along with the viewer’s movement, simulating the appearance of sails fluttering in the breeze.

For the landscape around the building, we opted for a minimalist design with mainly hard paving to highlight the architecture. Along the approach, the pavement features a chronological record of major events held at the former Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium. We hope this will spark intergenerational conversations among visitors to BUNTAI, such as discovering past events or reminiscing about concerts they attended.