Nestled into a wooded area in Japan's Saitama Prefecture, the Sayama Forest Chapel is a peaceful and humble testament to the drive of humankind. The angular, upward-reaching temple's roof is covered in over 21,000 aluminum tiles, each of which were rippled and bent by hand in order to conform precisely to the building's gabled design.
The Sayama Forest Chapel is the main structure for a cemetery. As such, its labour intensive building process stands as a sort of homage to the gravesites that it overlooks. Further, since each tile is unique, they reflect the individuality of each of the people that the graves commemorate.
The symbolism doesn't stop there as the inside of the building is primarily constructed with wooden pillars, reminding those in the building of the forest that surrounds them.
Hand-Bent Aluminum Rooves
The 'Sayama Forest Chapel' is a Testament to Patience and Artisanship
Trend Themes
1. Hand-bent Aluminum Tiles - Opportunity to explore personalized and unique designs in architecture by hand-bending aluminum tiles.
2. Labor-intensive Building Processes - Potential for creating meaningful and symbolic structures through labor-intensive construction methods.
3. Integration of Natural Elements in Architecture - Opportunity to incorporate natural materials like wood to enhance the connection between structures and their surroundings.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Disruptive innovation opportunity to rethink traditional building materials and construction techniques in architecture.
2. Cemetery and Funeral Services - Exploration of unique and personalized architectural designs for cemetery structures.
3. Sustainable Building Materials - Potential for using natural, eco-friendly materials like wood and aluminum in construction projects.