Tucked into the forested embrace of Hakone Open-Air Museum in Japan, the Woods of Net by Tezuka Architects is a perfect example of gentle ingenuity.
A play sculpture that’s equally a sanctuary, this freeform wooden pavilion is a reminder that design can be as soft as it is bold, as rooted as it is playful.
The heart of this project is its extraordinary materiality. Constructed entirely of timber, the Woods of Net eschews nails, screws, or bolts in favor of interlocking beams—a technique borrowed from centuries-old Japanese joinery. The resulting lattice resembles a cloud suspended in midair, an organic weave that feels at once ancient and futuristic. The wood’s pale, warm tone softens the geometry, inviting touch, exploration, and wonder.
Inside, the space pulses with life. At its center is a vibrant, undulating net—a masterpiece of textile art by artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam. Bright, multicolored strands weave together to create a tactile landscape that children can climb, stretch, and swing upon. The net’s fluid curves echo the forest canopy above, blurring the boundary between the architecture and its surroundings. Here, the act of play becomes an almost meditative practice, as kids lose themselves in movement while parents linger in the golden light that filters through the wooden lattice.
This seamless conversation between the built and the organic is no accident. Tezuka Architects, known for their human-centric and nature-integrated approach, designed the Woods of Net as a structure that would age gracefully. Over time, the timber will weather and darken, deepening its relationship with the environment. The absence of synthetic materials ensures the pavilion breathes, expands, and contracts like a living being. It’s a structure that belongs to the forest as much as it does to the museum.
What’s particularly striking about the Woods of Net is its sense of impermanence. Despite its monumental presence, it’s light and open, with air and sunlight passing through effortlessly. Standing beneath its canopy, there’s a feeling of being both sheltered and exposed—a duality that captures the essence of the human experience in nature. It’s a place to lose yourself and, paradoxically, to find yourself again.