A closer look at Toshiki Hirano's Chicago Lakefront Kiosk entry

In the months leading to the first-ever Chicago Architecture Biennial this October, the Biennial gave architects worldwide the chance to contribute in the Lakefront Kiosk Competition. A joint partnership between the Chicago Park District and the City of Chicago, the competition invited architects to envision an inventive kiosk design, using Chicago and its iconic Lake Michigan shoreline as inspiration.

The winning entry — along with three further kiosks designed by architects in collaboration with students from local Chicago architecture schools — will be built for the Biennial and is expected to serve as a permanent lakefront landmark.

The anticipated winner is expected to be revealed by the end of this month. In the meantime, Toshiki Hirano Design shared their submission, titled "Hujitsubo". Check out their entry right below.

Project description:

"Our proposal for Chicago Architecture Biennial Lakefront Kiosk aims to resonate with the surrounding lakefront landscape yet stands out as an iconic figure and to make its interior space opened to the outside yet provides an intimate closure, to become a catalyst for the lakefront cultural/recreational activities."

"The Kiosk is made of a bundle of tubes leaning to each other and extending into different directions. It is constructed on a wheeled chassis so that it can easily be towed. Openings on the tubes create a complex lighting condition underneath that houses service counter of the Kiosk and a semi-opened seating space."

"The Kiosk will host various cultural events including warm-up parties and talk sessions during the Biennial."

Details:

Project name: Hujitsubo
Office: TOSHIKI HIRANO DESIGN
Design Team: Toshiki Hirano
Year: 2015

All images courtesy of the firm.

Find more of Toshiki Hirano's designs on Bustler.