Tunnel of Light

Architecture & Experiential Design

Professional (2017)

Overview

Office : MAD Architects

Team : Ma Yansong, Yosuke Hayano, Dang Qun, Hiroki Fujino, Kazushi Miyamoto, Yuki Ishigami

Location : Echigo Tsumari, Japan

Status : Built

Tools : Rhino, Grasshopper, Maxwell, Vray for Rhino, AutoCAD

Phases : Conceptual Design, Design Development, Construction Design

Project Background

The Tunnel of Light is a visitor center and a series of permanent installations designed for the 2018 Echigo-Tsumari Triennale. The installations were built within the existing Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel in Japan’s Niigata prefecture. The tunnel cuts through 750 meters of rock formations in the mountains and punctures through these rock formations at certain points that offer a panoramic view across one of Japan’s great landscapes. Every installation has a reflective quality that reflects nature deeper into the originally bare concrete tunnels. I contributed to working on the Visitor Center, Platofrm 2 (Invisible Bubble) and Platform 4 (Light Cave).

Site Plan

Below is a site plan of the Kiyotsu Gorge Tunnel, Visitor Center, and Installation Locations

Visitor Center

Below are photos of the Visitor Center by Nacasa & Partners Inc.

Platform 4 - Light Cave

Plan of Platform 4 (Light Cave)

Section of Platform 4 (Light Cave)

Below is a photos of Platform 4 (Light Cave) by Nakamura Osamu

Below is a photos of Platform 4 (Light Cave) by Tokamachi Tourist Association

Below is a photos of Platform 4 (Light Cave) by Koji Nakao