Komorebi was developed and realized by the Professorship Design of Structures (dos) and the Professorship Digital Design and Fabrication (DDF) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology for the Kronenplatz in Karlsruhe. The project was initiated as part of the study of shading structures for microclimatic comfort in urban settings and aimed at developing a structural solution providing both shading and seating for public use. The structure combines two-tier seating with a light-filtering roof, creating a lightweight and aesthetic shading system that can be moved flexibly around the square using modular transport units.

LMNTAL developed and engineered the load-bearing steel substructure for the project. The development followed the principles of ‘design for manufacture and assembly’, resulting in a system with clear structural logic and a high degree of prefabrication that can be implemented economically, precisely and quickly. The geometrically complex nodes were rationalized and structurally solved in a smart yet simple way that allowed all parts to be fabricated from steel plates using simple three axis laser cutters, as the structure consists of all planar elements. This eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming moulded and welded parts.