Enchanting Wedding Chapel Adorned with 100 Hand-Carved Wood Panels

Nikken Space Design created an enchanting wedding chapel in Hiroshima, Japan, whose beauty lies in its meticulous dedication to craft. The most breathtaking feature of the airy, expansive space is its 100 wood panels that use a large tree as their motif. It's called Power of Flower and was done in collaboration with a kimono designer. In fact, the visual style of the flowers and plants were inspired by traditional patterns found in kimonos.

Each panel is made of Japanese cypress that's six feet by three feet and half an inch thick. The attention to detail is incredible – every piece is hand-carved and displays an intricate cutwork pattern. These gorgeous shapes filter light and cast their shadows on the aisle of the chapel, mimicking sunlight through trees. And with the nature-inspired aesthetic, it creates the feeling that the couple is getting married in a sun-drenched forest. How beautifully romantic.

Nikken Space Design website
via [Contemporist]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled 'Embroidered Life' that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
Become a
My Modern Met Member
As a member, you'll join us in our effort to support the arts.
Become a Member
Explore member benefits

Sponsored Content