wooden hiyoshi pavilion by japanese university students creates new gathering space

hiyoshi pavilion by jorge alamazán & keio university studiolab Jorge Alamazán and Keio University Studiolab’s Hiyoshi Pavilion transforms a vacant space into a student hangout spot. The temporary wooden structure fosters social encounters at the univ hiyoshi pavilion by jorge alamazán & keio university studiolab Jorge Alamazán and Keio University Studiolab’s Hiyoshi Pavilion transforms a vacant space into a student hangout spot. The temporary wooden structure fosters social encounters at the university campus in Yokohama, Japan, to enhance mental heath and academic performance. Built by the students themselves, it is shaped from a simple structure requiring no heavy machinery or specialized construction, comprising four benches topped with wooden frames attached to triangular mesh fabrics arranged in a checkered pattern. The fabrics cast soft shadows and allow the wind to gently pass through, avoiding excessive pressure. To further tackle the challenge of lightweight, temporary structures and withstand Japan’s strong winds and typhoons, a foundation of bags filled with pebbles was discreetly placed under the benches, securely connected to the pavilion frames. This approach enabled the team to avoid costly foundation work while facilitating the future dismantling of the structure. Joinery and materials, including local Japanese cedar (sugi) wood, were chosen for their easy ability to be recycled and repurposed, while the wood’s dimensions and lightness made any piece easy to handle by one or two people.all images courtesy of the author  the space enhances wellbeing and academic performance The project was born from a recognition of the vital role face-to-face interactions play in student well-being. Following the pandemic from 2019 to 2022, Jorge Alamazán and Keio University Studiolab noted that a significant decline in such interactions had detrimental effects on students’ motivation, academic performance, and mental health. As in-person classes resumed in April 2022, a series of initiatives, starting with the Hiyoshi Pavilion, were set in motion to provide additional spaces outside the classroom and gauge their impact on student life. Occupying the former site of the 5th building, demolished in November 2011, the Hiyoshi Pavilion capitalizes on a largely underused area with considerable potential for social interaction. The proposal aimed to amplify this site, which was only sporadically used for circulation and lunch gatherings, by introducing a cost-effective, small-scale wooden pavilion. The project adopts a participatory construction method to reduce costs and foster a sense of community and environmental responsibility, engaging fifteen students from design conception to final construction and maintenance. Under the guidance of a professional contractor and without the use of heavy machinery, the students assembled the frames on the ground and inserted them into the structure by hand over the course of 12 days. To further simplify the structure, diagonal cuts were avoided and instead a triangulated design was implemented. With this triangulation, all joints are articulated and can be secured with only two screws per joint. Students without any prior experience in construction could insert the screws easily using electric impact drivers.transforming a vacant campus space into a student hangout spot  Since its opening in the spring of 2023, the Hiyoshi Pavilion has quickly become a focal point for student interaction, demonstrating the potential of strategically placing inexpensive, small buildings in underutilized sites to promote informal exchanges and activities. ‘We hope that this method could become an inspiration not only for other campuses but also as a tool to create small gathering spaces that promote citizen participation in neglected neighborhoods,’ notes the design team.the structure serves as a restful area and fosters social interaction  designed to enhance mental heath and academic performancetriangular mesh fabrics arranged in a checkered pattern cast soft shadows and allow wind to gently pass throughthe chosen materials allow for self-construction without the use of heavy machinery    1/6      project info: name: Hiyoshi Pavilionarchitecture: Jorge Almazán + Keio University Studiolab | @keistudiolabdesign team: Jorge Almazán, Shunsuke Shimizu, Amata Tanahashi, Fumika Okuno, Alberto Braiotta, Keita Suzuki, Johan Kouaho, Yuna Matsuyama, Francesco Brusiani, Lorenzo Contilocation: Keio University Hiyoshi Campus, Yokohama, Japan  designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here. edited by: ravail khan | designboom