If ‘tent cities’ are defined by population density and small living spaces, one might characterize this modular system as a kind of ‘tent suburb’ prototype by comparison – or a sprawling tent estate, tent castle or Tent McMansion for large plots of camp-worthy land.

Then again, the interconnectivity makes it almost like a set of tent townhouses, too, or a sideways residential tent tower. But analogies and comparisons aside, the idea and its realization are superb: a complex of connected tents that each serves one or more functions within the larger whole.

At its heart is the decagon tent, a communal hub and origin point from which links to five other nodes can be extended.

These nodes, in turn, include a two-side-accessible link screen that can host up to sixteen people for dinner, a smaller terminal link dome that sleeps four and a car joint tarp that turns your SUV into an extra room.

Created by Japanese camping company logos, the invention was a shortlisted finalist this year’s Japan Good Design Award in Tokyo for its creative redeployment of an age-old static prototype, adding flexibility to convention to open up a world of new possibilities.

So what comes next? A tent castle in the sky? Sounds fantastical, but it may not too far from the mark after all.

More info via New Atlas

“The sample configuration pictured above includes two 12 kg (26 lb) N240-J tents at the 5 and 10 o’clock positions. Made from the same materials as the N600-J, even as standalone tents these are a decent size, with a 240 x 240 cm (94 x 94 in.) interior at base and an internal height of 170 cm (67 in.).”

“The 16 kg (35 lb) N7130-J is the generous compartment in the 7 o’clock position. With a height of 205 cm (81 in.), the notable feature of this unit is its generous length: the N7130-J has a footprint of 710 x 300 cm (280 x 118 in.) which is sufficient to give clearance from one hub to set up another, effectively forming a corridor or “link” – albeit one with space for a family dining table. Both the N7130-J and the N240-J are double-ended for potential interlinkage.”