Cour d'eau et de fleurs
Kuma & Elsa
Paris // France
Kuma & Elsa
Paris // France
KUMA & ELSA est une agence internationale d’architecture et d’urbanisme, fondée en 2018 par Shohei Kuma, architecte japonais, et Elsa Escobedo, urbaniste-designer franco espagnole. Ils collaborent sur des projets internationaux depuis leurs bases en France et au Japon. Kuma est diplômé d’architecture du Politecnico de Milan (Italie) et de l’Université de Kyushu (Japon). Il a travaillé pendant plusieurs années comme directeur de projets à l’agence tokyoïte Mount Fuji Architects Studio. Elsa est diplômée d’urbanisme et design de l’Université Panthéon Sorbonne et de l’École Boulle (France). Elle a travaillé pendant plusieurs années comme designer-urbaniste à l’agence londonienne What if : projects, et plus récemment comme consultante pour La Condition Urbaine et l’Agence Ter à Paris. En 2018, KUMA & ELSA a été sélectionnée pour réaliser un pavillon dans le Parc Naturel Régional de la Chartreuse. Leurs projets actuels comprennent un complexe artistique, un complexe de recherche et une résidence privée (Japon), une maison de vacances (France) et un atelier d’artiste (Espagne).
KUMA & ELSA is an international architecture and urbanism practice established in 2018, led by Shohei Kuma, a Japanese architect, and Elsa Escobedo, a French Spanish urban designer. They collaborate on international projects from their bases in France and Japan. Kuma graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and Kyushu University (Japan), and has worked for several years as a chief architect in the Tokyo based architecture office Mount Fuji Architects Studio. Elsa graduated in urbanism and design from Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (France) and École Boulle (France). She has worked as an urban designer at the London based office What if : projects, and as a consultant at La Condition Urbaine and at the Agence Ter in Paris. In 2018, KUMA & ELSA was selected to create a pavilion in the Chartreuse Natural Regional Park. Their current projects include an art facility, a research centre and a private residence (Japan), a weekend house (France) and an artist atelier (Spain).
KUMA & ELSA is an international architecture and urbanism practice established in 2018, led by Shohei Kuma, a Japanese architect, and Elsa Escobedo, a French Spanish urban designer. They collaborate on international projects from their bases in France and Japan. Kuma graduated in architecture from the Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and Kyushu University (Japan), and has worked for several years as a chief architect in the Tokyo based architecture office Mount Fuji Architects Studio. Elsa graduated in urbanism and design from Université Panthéon-Sorbonne (France) and École Boulle (France). She has worked as an urban designer at the London based office What if : projects, and as a consultant at La Condition Urbaine and at the Agence Ter in Paris. In 2018, KUMA & ELSA was selected to create a pavilion in the Chartreuse Natural Regional Park. Their current projects include an art facility, a research centre and a private residence (Japan), a weekend house (France) and an artist atelier (Spain).
Des projets de Franck Lloyd Wright on a dit : “avant qu’ils ne soient terminés la beauté des sites n’était remarquée par personne”. Comme si son architecture révélait la beauté potentielle d’un environnement. C’est cette beauté intrinsèque au lieu, à la cour, que vise notre proposition. Proposons une relation spatiale à la nature, dans une cour: bien que souvent un jardin fleurisse au sol, nous proposons d’en rehausser les fleurs. Il en résulte deux jardins, un jardin d’eau à nos pieds et un jardin de fleurs légèrement plus haut que nos yeux. Sur l’eau, le ciel de la cour se reflète et les pétales des fleurs flottent. Depuis les fenêtres et coursives de chaque étage, les passants ont une vue sur les fleurs qui flottent dans l’air. Le dispositif accentue la verticalité de la cour. Les modules sont disposés de manière régulière, créant un espace aérien et suggérant des coins, recoins ou plaines entre lesquels jouer, traverser, s’asseoir sous les fleurs, à hauteur d’eau. Les potentialités de la cour sont développées par une expérience sensorielle plaisante, et la beauté révélée après tout.
It has been said about Frank Lloyd Wright’s projects that: “Before they were achieved, nobody noticed the beauty of the site.” As his architecture revealed the natural beauty of its environment. Water Flower Courtyard intends to draw out this very site-specific beauty at Mirman Courtyard. Let’s set up a spatial relationship to nature: a garden usually blooms from the ground, but we suggest raising the flowers.
As a result, two gardens, a water garden at our feet and a flower garden just above eye-level. Arriving at the courtyard, on the water at your feet, sky reflects and flower petals float; from first floor, through the windows and from walkways, views of flowers floating in the air. The project enhances the verticality of the courtyard. Modules are laid out on a regular grid, creating a light space and suggesting places to play, walk and sit under the flowers at water level. The potential of the courtyard is revealed by a pleasant sensory experience, and the beauty revealed, after all.
It has been said about Frank Lloyd Wright’s projects that: “Before they were achieved, nobody noticed the beauty of the site.” As his architecture revealed the natural beauty of its environment. Water Flower Courtyard intends to draw out this very site-specific beauty at Mirman Courtyard. Let’s set up a spatial relationship to nature: a garden usually blooms from the ground, but we suggest raising the flowers.
As a result, two gardens, a water garden at our feet and a flower garden just above eye-level. Arriving at the courtyard, on the water at your feet, sky reflects and flower petals float; from first floor, through the windows and from walkways, views of flowers floating in the air. The project enhances the verticality of the courtyard. Modules are laid out on a regular grid, creating a light space and suggesting places to play, walk and sit under the flowers at water level. The potential of the courtyard is revealed by a pleasant sensory experience, and the beauty revealed, after all.
©photoarchitecture