Armare Ropes is proud to have contributed to the creation of the extraordinary works by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma for OCA – Oasy Contemporary Art and Architecture, an artistic and cultural project immersed in nature at 900 meters above sea level, in the Pistoia Apennines, within the Oasi Dynamo nature reserve. This initiative is designed to harmoniously and sustainably merge art with the surrounding landscape.
Courtesy of OCA – Oasi Dynamo / Photo by Lorenzo Marianeschi
The three installations that make up the “Dynamo Pavilion” were designed to blend seamlessly into the natural environment and evoke a sense of discovery and wonder in the viewer. A challenge that required cutting-edge technical solutions and a handcrafted approach to structural design.
“We were asked to develop a structural solution that would achieve both high aesthetic and performance standards, with the particular requirement that construction take place directly on-site,” says Stefano Finco, CEO of Armare Ropes.
Courtesy of OCA – Oasi Dynamo / Photo by Nicola Neri
Courtesy of OCA – Oasi Dynamo / Photo by Lorenzo Marianeschi
A unique project between art and engineering
Armare worked closely with the design team at Kengo Kuma & Associates, alongside another Italian company involved in the construction, contributing its expertise in the creation of lightweight, high-tech structures.
Courtesy of OCA – Oasi Dynamo / Photo by Nicola Neri
Matteo Illesi, project manager and engineer at Armare, used his extensive experience in carbon fiber construction and the flexibility of our production team to introduce a novel solution in this field—one enthusiastically welcomed by the Japanese firm.
“The greatest challenge was reconciling the aesthetic aspect—which was absolutely dominant—with the need for structural elements to be integrated and invisible, yet capable of providing incredibly high technical performance,” explains Illesi, who has worked on the project since February 2024. “The scale and complexity of the artworks required meticulous structural calculations for snow load and strong wind conditions.”
Carbon as a material of ‘Void’
The installations, made from carbon fiber and COR-TEN® steel, are designed to vibrate in the wind, interact with light, and blend into the landscape. This choice reflects the Japanese aesthetic of “emptiness” and “silence,” where the artwork doesn’t impose but adapts and harmonizes with its surroundings.
The creators of Oasi Dynamo describe the Dynamo Pavilion as:
“An open-minded approach beyond borders, evoking sensitivities very different from the Western perspective. It suggests rethinking the human–nature relationship based on voids and silences—a fundamental theme of Eastern culture.”
Courtesy of OCA – Oasi Dynamo / Photo by Lorenzo Marianeschi
Today, the installations are fully integrated into the Oasi forest and appear to visitors as a surprise—a light and poetic presence among the trees.
““The attention to detail that architect Kengo Kuma puts into his work is incredible,” Illesi concludes. “Seeing the completed structures now, harmoniously embedded in the natural landscape, gave us a full understanding of his vision. We’re proud to have left our mark in these structures.”
Special thanks go to engineer Matteo Illesi, Oleg Slavinskyi, and the entire Armare technical team for making this extraordinary project possible.
Visit the official Oasy Contemporary Art and Architecture website: https://oasycontemporaryart.com