SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice
An intricate three-dimensional lattice of narrow timber slats forms a cloud-like mass around the exterior of this pineapple cake shop in Tokyo by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma (+ slideshow).
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_50.jpg)
Kengo Kuma and Associates was asked by cake brand SunnyHills to come up with a shop design that mirrors the careful preparation of the company's trademark pineapple cakes, so the architects developed a volume modelled on a well-crafted bamboo basket.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_1.jpg)
Over 5000 metres of wooden strips were used to construct the precise 3D grid that wraps around around the outer walls and ceiling of the three-storey building. Some pieces were cut shorter than others, revealing multiple layers and reducing the overall linearity.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_10.jpg)
"Our aim was to create a forest in the busy city centre," said Kengo Kuma. "We studied how lighting states would change in a day in the woods, and came up with a shape like a basket."
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_2.jpg)
The narrow slats are arranged at angles of 30 and 60 degrees, creating hundreds of diamond-shaped hollows, and were assembled by local Japanese craftsman.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_5.jpg)
"I consider that wood joints without glues or nails are the essence of Japanese architecture," added Kuma. "What is characteristic about SunnyHills is the angle of the lattice; unlike the conventional 90 degrees, we tried 30 degrees and 60 degrees to combine the pieces.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_4.jpg)
"By designing with these varied angles, we were able to achieve a shape and a frame that evokes a forest," he added.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_9.jpg)
An opening at one corner leads visitor into the shop, which occupies the two lower floors of the building. An assortment of differently sized staircase treads form a route between the two floors and are flanked by sprouting foliage.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_6.jpg)
Cork tiles provide flooring on the first floor, where the architects have also added a kitchen. The cork surface continues up to the level above, which houses a meeting room and staff office.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_8.jpg)
Photography is by Daici Ano.
![SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_7.jpg)
Here's a project description from Kengo Kuma and Associates:
SunnyHills at Minami-Aoyama
This shop, specialised in selling pineapple cake (popular sweet in Taiwan), is in the shape of a bamboo basket. It is built on a joint system called "Jiigoku-Gumi", traditional method used in Japanese wooden architecture (often observed in Shoji: vertical and cross pieces in the same width are entwined in each other to form a muntin grid). Normally the two pieces intersect in two dimensions, but here they are combined in 30 degrees in 3 dimensions (or in cubic), which came into a structure like a cloud. With this idea, the section size of each wood piece was reduced to as thin as 60mm×60mm.
![Site plan of SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_11.gif)
As the building is located in middle of the residential area in Aoyama, we wanted to give some soft and subtle atmosphere to it, which is completely different from a concrete box. We expect that the street and the architecture could be in good chemistry.
![Floor plans of SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_12.gif)
Design architecture: Kengo Kuma & Associates
Structure: Jun Sato Structural Engineering
Facilities: Kankyo Engineering
Construction: Satohide Corporation
Location: Minami Aoyama 3-10-20 Minato-ku Tokyo Japan
Site Area: 175.69 sqm
Building Area: 102.36 sqm
Total Floor Area: 293.00 sqm
No. of Floors: BF1, 1F, 2F, RF
Structure: reinforced concrete, partially timber
Primary use: Store (retail)
Client: SunnyHills Japan
![Section of SunnyHills cake shop by Kengo Kuma encased within intricate timber lattice](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2014/02/SunnyHills-cake-shop-by-Kengo-Kuma-encased-within-intricate-timber-lattice_dezeen_13.gif)