The Architecture of Silence: Designing "Scale" in a Diorama World

More Than Just Small

When people hear the word "diorama," they often think of tiny, intricate replicas.
But for my project, KOBE Diorama Adventure (kodiad), the scale is not just about making things small.
It is about creating a stage where the "quiet rhythm" of Kobe can truly breathe.

Finding "Ma" (The Space Between)

In a full-scale digital world, there is a tendency to fill every corner with objects.
However, to recreate the "quietness even when people are around" that I feel in Kobe, I focus on "Ma"—the intentional space between buildings and nature.

In the Suma or Harborland areas, I purposefully leave open vistas.
This allows the player to feel the vastness of the sea and the weight of the mountains, even within a limited voxel space.
It is this intentional "emptiness" that invites the calm atmosphere I want to preserve.

Preserving the Impression

As I’ve mentioned before, I build from memory, not just blueprints.
When I recall the view from Mt. Rokko or the walk through Meriken Park, what stays with me isn't the number of windows on a building, but the sense of scale compared to the horizon.

By adjusting the height of the trees and the width of the streets in kodiad, I am not just building a map; I am sculpting the "silence" I remember.

Conclusion

The world of kodiad is still evolving.
Each update is a step closer to capturing that elusive, quiet pulse of the city.
I hope that as you walk through this diorama, you feel the "Ma" and find your own moment of peace.

• Experience the Silence: Explore the latest version of Kobe on The Sandbox map.
  👉 Play KOBE Diorama Adventure on The Sandbox