TORAFU ARCHITECTS

We designed the illumination display made using Android-operating devices, which can be found in the plaza facing TV Asahi known as Roppongi Hills Arena. Since this is the time of the year where people think most of connecting with others, we were tasked with providing an installation using around 600 Android-powered smartphones.

We set out to populate the plaza with 12 trees made using AA Stools designed by Torafu, which can be stacked horizontally and have the particularity of resembling a capital letter "A". The AA Stool is a product made and sold by Ishinomaki Laboratory, a DIY manufacturer, which formed after the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake around a collective of designers based in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture. Arranged in an irregular annular array at the center of the plaza can be found 12 trees made by stacking a type of stool from the AA Stool Series with a lower seat plate called the AA Low Stool. In addition to being stacked horizontally, which is their distinguishing feature; these stools can be flipped vertically and pilled up to a height of about 4m to give visitors the experience of walking in the woods. To give the scene a touch of festive color, the front of each tree is fitted with smartphone decorations where people can be seen moving to the sound of a countdown and music. This series of AA Stools that are randomly colored red and green can be disassembled and stored, thereby enabling reuse, once the event is over.

This display of light, music and video expresses the wonder of people coming together and overcoming their differences, such as those based on race, gender, age, occupation and personal taste, etc.