Renowned Japanese architect Junya Ishigami has unveiled a striking sculptural kiosk that resembles a cloud touching the ground as part of the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition 2025. The innovative structure, called "Clouds Descend," is one of three mobile kiosks designed by prominent Japanese architects for the ongoing architecture and art event in Fukuyama, Japan, which runs until November 30.

Ishigami's cloud-like creation is strategically positioned in front of the south exit of Fukuyama Station, where it serves as a visitor information center for the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition 2025. The sculpture was specifically designed to emulate a cloud skimming the ground, complete with matching tables and stools that follow the same ethereal, cloud-like form. The architect deliberately created the structure to appear as though it's "on the verge of falling over," giving visitors a sense of precarious balance that evokes clouds gently touching the earth.

The construction of Clouds Descend involved bent steel, a material choice that came directly from Ishigami's visit to the factory of shipbuilder Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, which sponsors the kiosk alongside Japanese waste company Tsuneishi Kamtecs. Ishigami expressed being "overwhelmed by the sheer power" of the shipbuilder's manufacturing process, which involves bending large steel plates to form ships. He explained that "this small kiosk is also constructed by bending steel plates into three-dimensional shapes and welding them together—similar to building a ship."

The architect employed engineering principles reminiscent of shipbuilding to achieve the kiosk's distinctive tilted appearance. "It is installed like a ship leaning to one side, balanced by the principle of a self-righting toy, achieved by making the base heavy," Ishigami explained. "The sight of it installed on the ground, teetering precariously on the verge of falling over, is evocative of clouds gently touching the land."

The second kiosk, designed by architect Yasushi Horibe, takes a completely different approach with traditional Japanese craftsmanship. Named "Tsuboya," this compact wooden hut is situated in the Garden of Ignorance at the Shinshoji Zen Museum, one of the official venues for the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition 2025. The structure's scale was carefully calculated based on the traditional Japanese measuring system called Tsubo and was crafted in collaboration with sponsor and woodworker Wood One Co using solid Yoshino cypress timber and time-honored Japanese carpentry techniques.

Horibe emphasized the philosophical significance of his design, stating, "I believe architecture is not merely physical, it is a 'way.' It is a single path stretching from the past to the future, and this project exists along that path." He viewed the project as "an important opportunity to consider what can be done to preserve the kinds of materials we are familiar with today, and the traditional hand-carving carpentry techniques that are disappearing before our eyes."

The third kiosk, created by architect Hideyuki Nakayama, is located in the nearby city of Onomichi on the waterfront beside the mixed-use Onomichi U2 venue. Named "Kiosk Through Which the Landscape Passes," this innovative structure comprises two small seats sheltered by an arched, transparent canopy. The modular design features units set on wheels, allowing them to be separated or combined to form a single unified shelter, providing flexibility in how visitors can use the space.

Nakayama envisioned his creation as a dynamic social space, explaining, "When the kiosks are joined, the space born in the middle is where the visiting people and children meet. I imagine a scene unfolding like a large, transparent sketchbook, with different pictures drawn each day against the changing backdrop of Onomichi's sea and sky." This mobile kiosk was sponsored by automotive parts company Molten Corporation.

While Ishigami's Clouds Descend functions specifically as a visitor information center, the kiosks designed by Nakayama and Horibe serve broader purposes as what organizers describe as a "gateway to ideas" and a "forum for dialogue" throughout the exhibition. The Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition 2025 showcases the work of 23 architecture and art groups across eight different exhibitions, creating a comprehensive celebration of contemporary architectural innovation.

The three distinctive kiosks represent more than temporary installations for the current exhibition. According to organizers, this trio will also be featured at future iterations of the Hiroshima Architecture Exhibition in 2028 and 2031, alongside new kiosks that will be created specifically for those later editions of the event. This long-term vision ensures that these architectural experiments will continue to serve as gathering points and inspiration for future generations of architects and design enthusiasts visiting the region.