Suzumushi Tea House

Press Kit

Unique Properties

Sound of Suzumushi is a 20 sq.m woven bamboo pavilion for deTour 2023 at PMQ, Hong Kong, featuring torus-shaped seating baskets (2.5m & 1.5m diameters) via Kagome triaxial weaving. Unique for scaling handicraft to architecture with embedded video of craft processes, it offers tactile rest spaces, raises heritage awareness, and integrates computational form-finding with manual execution for superior structural lightness and sustainability.

Dimensions & Packaging

Site Area: 20 sq.m
Diameter: 2500mm (large), 1500mm (small)
Height: 2500mm
Moso Bamboo strips: 5-8mm thick x 10-15mm wide.

Tags

bamboo weaving, Kagome structure, computational design, craft preservation, Hong Kong heritage, architectural prototype, tactile installation, cultural propagation

Production Technology

Kagome triaxial weaving analyzed via Grasshopper algorithms modeling bamboo strip topology (10cm grid), materiality, and physics simulation (Oasys gsa fea for deflection/bending under gravity/lateral loads). Validated by 3-point bending/strain gauge tests on mock-ups. Pre-woven components assembled on-site with scaffolding/forklifts; Moso bamboo strips split to 5-8mm thickness, interlocked sans fasteners for self-bracing reciprocal structure.

Design Challenge

The toughest challenge was scaling delicate Kagome weaving from small baskets to 2.5m architectural forms, where manual techniques faltered on strip handling and wind resistance. Internally, capturing tacit knowledge from scarce experts proved elusive amid the historical decline of craft. Externally, sparse local bamboo sources, PMQ site weather disruptions, and coordinating volunteers posed hurdles. We overcame these through iterative finite element analysis and mock-ups, introducing forklifts and scaffolding for assembly, ultimately delivering a lightweight, reusable structure that advances craft viability.

Project Duration

The project was designed and constructed from August 2023 to December 2023 in Hong Kong, with primary installation at pmq cultural complex terrace, Central, Hong Kong, for deTour Design Festival 2023. Pre-weaving occurred at cuhk School of Architecture workshops; on-site assembly involved volunteers.

Operation Flow

Visitors approach the pavilion on pmq terrace, enter the larger woven basket to sit or recline on curved bamboo seats, feeling the smooth, flexible weave. Touch reveals craft texture; inside, a video plays craft stories, evoking bell-cricket “suzumushi” sounds metaphorically. Interaction flows from rest to reflection, outperforming rigid benches by inviting sensory immersion and heritage connection in urban bustle.

Research

This design research explores scaling Hong Kong’s traditional bamboo weaving into architecture. Objectives focus on digitizing implicit craft skills for broader use and creating inhabitable structures. The methodology involves analyzing Kagome techniques, building Grasshopper models with material simulations, and testing mock-ups using Rhino/Grasshopper, Oasys GSA for finite element analysis, and strain gauges.
Results yielded stable torus pavilions; insights reveal craft-digital tools propagate heritage. Impacts enhance sustainable design, societal craft awareness, and business in renewables.

Inspiration

The inspiration stems from the endangered bamboo weaving craft in Hong Kong, exemplified by master Lui Ming (age 79). Motivated by the decline of implicit craft knowledge due to industrialization, this project seeks to preserve and propagate it through architectural applications, transforming traditional Kagome techniques into scalable, inhabitable structures that promote cultural heritage and the use of renewable materials.

Image Credits

Image Credit: Craft Design Research Lab