Tangling by Akihisa Hirata
London Design Festival: hundreds of intricate models by emerging Japanese architect Akihisa Hirata are pinned onto the looping walls of this installation at the Architecture Foundation in London (+ slideshow).
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_6.jpg)
Named Tangling, the entire exhibition is contained within an installation of knotted walls, which curve around one another to create arched openings.
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_1.jpg)
The exhibition is Hirata's first solo show outside of Japan and follows his recent collaboration with Toyo Ito, Sou Fujimoto and Kumiko Inui at the the Golden Lion-winning Japanese Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_2.jpg)
The clustered model collections on display show how the architect develops the spaces of his buildings from complex geometric and organic forms.
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_3.jpg)
Hirata explains his idea of tangling as a concept for "linking the architecture of the future to the nature of living things."
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_4.jpg)
Films documenting the interiors of Hirata's completed buildings are projected onto the curving walls of the exhibition, alongside a series of concept sketches.
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_5.jpg)
Past exhibitions organised by the Architecture Fundation include an indoor terrain of moss arches and a city orchard.
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_7.jpg)
See all our stories about the London Design Festival »
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_8.jpg)
Photography is by Daniel Hewitt, apart from where otherwise stated.
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_11.jpg)
Above: photograph is by Yukata Endo / Luftzug Co. Ltd
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_12.jpg)
Above: photograph is by Yukata Endo / Luftzug Co. Ltd
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_13.jpg)
Above: photograph is by Yukata Endo / Luftzug Co. Ltd
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_9.jpg)
Above: photograph is by Dezeen
![Tangling by Akihisa Hirata Tangling by Akihisa Hirata](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2012/09/dezeen_Tangling-by-Akihisa-Hirata_10.jpg)
Above: photograph is by Dezeen
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