LIAM FUJI – a serene time of being led by equations, embracing perplexity and warmth.
Liam Gillick & MOUNT FUJI ARCHITECTS STUDIO. This hotel is a collaboration between a contemporary artist and a Japanese architect. The name "Liam Fuji" is derived from their names.
A&A stands for "Artist" & "Architect," but Liam Fuji has another "A" – "Academic." The equations visible on the hotel's exterior are the work of Shukuro Manabe, a meteorologist. Manabe was the first to calculate that doubling CO2 levels would raise Earth's temperature by about 2 degrees, for which he won a Nobel Prize. Liam, tasked with creating a message poster for the Paris climate conference, was captivated by Manabe’s equations, and incorporated them into the design. Look around the hotel again; you'll find his equations hidden throughout.
Moreover, the hotel's architecture is so intricate that it feels like a maze, making you lose your sense of direction.
Your first hour here might be unsettling, but as time passes, you'll understand the usability and enjoyment of each space and notice the different messages they convey. You'll also discover spaces intentionally left without specific functions.
Thus, you will think and explore, contemplating the use of each room and the intentions behind them. This reflects Liam Gillick's "relational aesthetics," which holds that art and architecture are incomplete without the viewer's participation. In this sense, you are already part of the artwork.