a gallery space for puzzles designed like a puzzle

by Johnny on January 28, 2013

photos by Hiraku Ikeda | click to enlarge

the architect used a computer algorithm to generate an answer to his puzzle – how to fit 144 pentacubes into a space

Housed within JAIST (Japan Institute of Science and Technology) is a gallery space whose sole purpose is to house and display Japan’s largest puzzle collection, numbering some 10,000 mind benders. There you will find a selection of roughly 200 puzzles that include rare pieces from the collection of Nob Yoshigahara, “Japan’s most celebrated inventor, collector, solver and communicator of puzzles.”

But what’s a rare puzzle collection without a proper gallery space? Enter Tatsu Matsuda Architects, who collaborated with Rinno Architecutal office to redesign the JAIST Gallery late last year. Taking a page from Yoshigahara’s penchant for mathematics, the architect used a computer algorithm to generate an answer to his puzzle – how to fit 144 pentacubes into a space and still allow for display area and the flow of people? The result is a puzzle-like space in itself, which invites visitors to enter and explore the world of puzzles.