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March 19, 2015
Scirocco | Volkswagen Scirocco: The Car makes Style. Dynamic landscape design.
Volkswagen Scirocco
Scirocco × Landscape Designer Eiki Dantsuka
Dynamic Landscape Design
A car's beauty is determined by various factors. The packaging that balances the drivetrain, such as the engine, with the interior space. The proportions created by the placement of the body, cabin, and wheels. The expression of the body through lines and curves. Many elements contribute. The Volkswagen Scirocco, a two-door coupe released in 2008, boasts excellent packaging, balanced proportions, and taut body surfaces. Its sporty image is built on a foundation of inherent quality.
Text by Fumio OgawaPhotos by Takahiro Igarashi
Why is the Scirocco Creative?
As Volkswagen puts it, "When you slide your hand from the headlight to the fender and then to the door, you notice the movement of the gently curved surfaces in various directions. As the viewing angle and the angle of light change, the complex surface composition is emphasized, evoking the muscles of a dynamic athlete."
The effort to achieve the Scirocco's design must be immense. The robustness of the body, as if carved from a solid block of metal, combined with high-quality manufacturing precision, evokes a sense of "art" encompassing everything from fine art to crafts.
The surface of the parking lot features a pattern of Kawasaki's map and products once manufactured by Toshiba's factory. The message is also intriguing.
Titled "Millennial Forest," this work is inspired by the Volkswagen Beetle. It features lemon trees and other plants that bear white flowers.
The appeal of a beautiful car lies in its ability to evoke joy in ownership and driving pleasure. The Scirocco elevates the driver's spirits. Creation is not merely about designing an object, but about engaging with the entire environment. Therefore, the act of driving can also be considered creative. In other words, it must be creative. This is the importance of driving alongside beautiful things. Hence, the Scirocco is creative.
The creator we introduce today is landscape designer Eiki Dantsuka. He established his own firm, Earthscape, in 1999. He has undertaken numerous landscape projects for public and commercial facilities, large-scale complexes both domestically and internationally, residences, and academic institutions, garnering significant attention. Landscape design is a creative endeavor that engages with the environment and connects people to it.
The Creativity of Landscape Design
A list of Mr. Dantsuka's major works includes Harumi Triton Square (2000), Marunouchi Oazo North Building (2004), Lalaport Toyosu (2006), Park City Toyosu (2007), and Mitsui Outlet Park Iruma (2008). Landscape design connects cities, architecture, and people. It shares common ground with automobiles.
Circulation paths intersect in the Rufa Plaza. Various features are also arranged here.
"When designing a landscape, I focus on creating opportunities for people to interact, expanding nature, and incorporating the 'memories' that local residents have of the area. This also fulfills the business owner's wish to have visitors spend a long time within the facility," says Eiki Dantsuka.
One of Mr. Dantsuka's representative works is "LaLaport Kawasaki Plaza," adjacent to the west exit of Kawasaki Station. It was formerly the Toshiba Kawasaki Plant (formerly the Horikawa-cho factory), which produced numerous machines and electrical appliances. While it houses many commercial facilities, urban regeneration was also a key theme. Visitors approach from residential areas via stairs, pass through the plaza, and head towards the station. The expansive site features numerous unique installations.
The first thing guests arriving by car notice is the work titled "Millennial Forest" by Eiki Dantsuka. It is inspired by the "Volkswagen Type 1," commonly known as the Beetle. White wires are bent to create the Beetle's shape. While the silhouette is that of a Beetle, upon closer inspection, the wires form patterns of plants and trees. Furthermore, plants are grown inside the Beetle, and a lemon tree extends largely from the ceiling.
"We wanted to convey the hope that a forest will eventually grow here. We chose the Volkswagen Beetle because it is the most popular and universally recognized car."
Volkswagen Scirocco
Scirocco × Landscape Designer Eiki Dantsuka
Dynamic Landscape Design
The Scirocco Through the Eyes of a Creator
A crucial aspect of landscape design is evoking memories. When people see something, they think, "Wait, what was that?" They search their memories, and from that, new sensations emerge. Eiki Dantsuka always keeps this in mind. At LaLaport Kawasaki Plaza, when viewed from above, one can see the map of Kawasaki and patterns of electrical appliances once produced by the former factory depicted on the ground.
The intersection of paths connecting the station and the town is named "Rufa Plaza," with one of the crossing streets themed "Urban" and the other "Nature." For example, the benches placed along the street. The colors are derived from a color separation of Kawasaki's cityscape and natural scenery. Kawasaki, with the Tama River flowing through it, is also blessed with greenery. The "Nature" benches, which use curved forms, are in pastel colors, while the "Urban" benches, which are square, feature cool color schemes.
Mr. Dantsuka, a car enthusiast, highly praises the Scirocco for both its design and performance.
The Scirocco was a car that Eiki Dantsuka had been keenly interested in. Known as a car enthusiast, he states that he had been paying attention to the Scirocco since it was first unveiled as a study model named the "Iroc concept."
"One of the Scirocco's charms is its design. It has excellent proportions and looks like it's ready to race. Moreover, the details are meticulously crafted, appealing to professionals. The three-dimensional design of the rear combination lamps, the character lines on the side of the body, and the way the surfaces connect around the A-pillar and hood are all beautiful. It's free of excess and has no flaws."
Even after driving it, Mr. Dantsuka beams, saying, "It was exactly as I expected." "The engine revs well, and the handling is sporty. The acceleration is good, and the feeling of the car turning when you steer is also excellent. It's a fun car to drive, just as its appearance suggests. Both the design and the driving dynamics are superb," he praises.
Cars and Environment, Landscape and Environment
The "Scirocco TSI," equipped with a 1.4-liter TSI twin-charged engine, clears the 2005 emission standards by 75% (achieving a 4-star rating) and meets the 2010 fuel efficiency standards by an additional 15%. It is eligible for eco-car tax reductions. Ecology, which considers the environment as a whole, is a crucial theme for creators, extending from a car's fuel efficiency and low emissions to landscape design.
"I am aware of the Scirocco's excellent environmental compatibility. Design, driving performance, and environmental performance are the three key factors for cars today, and they contribute to a car's value. How we interact with the planet is something everyone must consider in this era."
Named "Path of Four Seasons," it is planted with trees that bloom in each season, following the themes of "Spring," "Summer," "Autumn," and "Winter."
The benches installed in Rufa Plaza are designed with motifs of "Urban" and "Nature," including their color schemes. This is the "Urban" bench.
Cars play a vital role in the environment. They are an essential element of urban infrastructure, and modern life cannot exist without them. Therefore, they have a close relationship with landscape design. Eiki Dantsuka focuses on this aspect, dedicating effort to the design of parking areas as well.
Taking Eiki Dantsuka's "LaLaport Kawasaki Plaza" as an example, visual elements like "Millennial Forest" incorporate messages of greening and coexistence with nature. It aims to make car occupants consider the environment. The fact that the car itself strives for coexistence with nature is highly commendable, he states.
The Volkswagen Scirocco is more than just a means of transportation. Its design evokes various positive emotions, its driving performance offers enjoyment, and its environmental compatibility aims for coexistence with nature and paves the way for the future. It strives for a high level in all aspects, becoming an important partner in our lives. Therefore, it is creative.
Eiki Dantsuka
Born in Oita Prefecture in 1963. After working at the Environmental Art Research Institute, he established Earthscape (www.earthscape.co.jp) in 1999. He has undertaken numerous large-scale landscape designs for public facilities, domestic and international commercial facilities, residences, and schools, earning high acclaim for his original works that transcend conventional boundaries. His social contribution activities through design, MHCP (Medical Herb Man Cafe Project, www.mhcp.jp), received the Good Design Award in 2010, and various projects beyond the scope of urban development and landscape design are currently underway.