Architecture studio Kengo Kuma and Associates has collaborated with Danish manufacturer Dinesen on the wood-and-brick Earth / Tree installation at art centre Copenhagen Contemporary.
The installation, which was led by Kengo Kuma and Associates partner Yuki Ikeguchi, is centred around a suspended structure made from wood slats.
Wood from the ceiling meets floor bricks in Earth / Tree
It has a lighting design by local studio Anker & Co and draws on the Japanese concept of komorebi, which refers to the patterns of shadow and light that are created when sunlight passes through treetops.
“It’s an installation to create an architectural ‘komorebi’, sensorial moments under the soft wood veil above the brick mount,” Ikeguchi told Dezeen.
Kengo Kuma and Associates worked with Dinesen on the installation
The studio used wood from Dinesen and brick from Danish manufacturer Pedersen Tegl to create Earth / Tree, which sees the wooden ceiling installation meet thrown-together brick tiles that were intended to represent the earth.
According to the architect, there were two reasons behind Kengo Kuma and Associates’ decision to work with these materials for the installation, which is displayed in an old industrial hall.
Kengo Kuma embellishes Kyoto hotel with timber-skeleton theatre stage
“One is to express the most fundamental form of architecture, a place under the tree canopy, feeling the earth under your feet where one finds comfort, unity and inspiration,” Ikeguchi said.
“The other is to celebrate the finest Danish traditional material crafts, timber and brick.”
Earth / Tree is on display in an old industrial hall at Copenhagen Contemporary
The wood for the exhibition was processed in collaboration with the Danish Troldkær School as part of an initiative to empower students with special needs.
Visitors can also explore their own creativity in a workshop section of the installation.
This has a sand pit that they can use to create landscapes as well as a variety of building blocks, including Tsumiki, a building block designed by Kengo Kuma, Danish-produced wooden building blocks and miniature bricks.
Visitors can create their own designs in a sand pit
Earth / Tree is part of Copenhagen Contemporary‘s CCreative programming and was designed especially for the space.
“We have done installations and exhibitions in various forms, scales, and designs in Europe that are specific to each space and context,” Ikeguchi said.
“For CC it is unique because of the director’s vision, the raw beauty of the industrial space and the amazing collaborators.”
Japanese and Danish materials were combined for the exhibition
The installation was intended to showcase the connection between Japanese and Nordic approaches to craft and materiality.
“Collaboration with artists is at the heart of Dinesen,” said Dinesen brand director Hans Peter Dinesen.
“Through our wood, they bring visions to life, infusing our work with unique stories, identity, and an expanded mythology. Art is a space where we are challenged and can connect to something greater than ourselves.”
Earth / Tree draws on the Japanese concept of komorebi
Another recent exhibition in Copenhagen is designer Laerke Ryom’s Raiments, which features furniture that is “tailored like garments”.
Also on Dezeen, we explored seven new design galleries around the world.
The photography is courtesy of Dinesen.
Earth / Tree takes place from 28 March 2026 to 21 February 2027 at Copenhagen Contemporary. For more up-to-date events in architecture and design around the world, visit Dezeen Events Guide.