Daphne: A Harmonious Blend of Past and Future

24° Studio's Award-Winning Installation Transforms Perception of Space

Daphne is a testament to the potential of paper as an architectural material. The installation, situated within a tunnel leading to the peak of Kasteli, is a series of self-supporting paper panels that create a new spatial structure within the existing tunnel. The design respects the existing spatial conditions, allowing a coexistence of old and new through a repeating pattern of solids and voids. This innovative approach was inspired by the desire to transform the perception of space, rather than merely retreating the old surface of the existing tunnel.

What sets Daphne apart is its ability to interplay with the notion of concealing and revealing the ancient walls of the tunnel. The paper panels age and take their shape according to the local conditions, creating an enclosure that intervenes the visitors' perception of the existing condition as a container of conglomerated memory. At night, LED lighting contained within the panels illuminates the space, offering a different perception of the tunnel.

The realization of Daphne involved a meticulous process of design and production. The overall geometry of the installation was initially figured out using 3D software, and the surface geometry was subdivided and panelized into a 6-sided star-shaped unit. A total of 360 self-supporting hollow panels were created, each panel pattern printed on heavyweight watercolor papers. These were cut, prefolded, and shipped from Japan to Greece, where they were assembled on site and linked with each other by zip-ties.

The installation is not just a static structure, but a dynamic entity that interacts with its environment and the users. As visitors ascend the stairway, the number of panels grows, encapsulating the interior tunnel and juxtaposing the existing surface with the new intervention of Daphne. The changing environmental conditions—wind, sunlight, humidity, human interactions—play an important role in the aging and wearing of the material, communicating a phenomenal condition of time and space to the passersby.

Daphne was exhibited at the Santorini Biennale of Arts in 2012, where it was located at the stairway tunnel that every visitor had to encounter before reaching the fortified settlement of Kasteli. This site-specific installation was not only a contemporary intervention at the ancient site, but also a celebration of the coexistence of old and new. Its ephemeral condition of aging and disappearance encapsulated the past, present, and future, creating a lasting memory for the residents of Pyrgos.

This innovative design by 24° Studio, a collaboration between Fumio Hirakawa and Marina Topunova, was recognized with the Golden A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award in 2013. This prestigious award is granted to creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics. Daphne, with its unique approach to architectural design and its transformative effect on space, truly embodies these qualities.