Kengo Kuma & Associates

Momofuku Ando Center

Momofuku Ando Center
© Daici Ano

MOMOFUKU ANDO CENTER

Kengo Kuma & Associates

ARCHITECTS
Kengo Kuma & Associates

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
Japan

YEAR
2010

AREA
1999.0 m²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Daici Ano

Text description provided by architect.

We wanted to place an architecture that is like a long stick. To be precise, a single, long, and ‘free’ roof in the forest under which various activities – exercise, studying, eating, sleeping – are conducted. Box confines people to the closed space, but roof can give more freedom, while its canopies protecting people from harsh environment.

Momofuku Ando Center
© Daici Ano
Momofuku Ando Center
© Daici Ano

Two ideas were adopted to achieve this freedom for the roof, under which is actually a training center for leaders promoting young people’s outdoor activities.

One is a device to near the metallic roof to canopies. We created a fin of 300mm raise, developed from that of 150mm we used for Baiso-in temple several years ago.

Momofuku Ando Center
© Daici Ano
Momofuku Ando Center
© Daici Ano
Momofuku Ando Center
© Daici Ano

In addition, by tinting the metal plate with 3 different colors, we tired to come close to the varied tones of the forest. The other idea was to unify the interior entirely with a single slope, providing a sequence in the building that could correspond with the landscape of the forest.

The building actually came into being in two levels, as it needed to be divided into bed rooms, lecture halls and other functions, but each small unit is bundled with the slope. The slope follows the slant of the actual site, which enables you to feel walking on the earth in an artificial environment.


Momofuku Ando Center
Elevations


Momofuku Ando Center
Plan


Momofuku Ando Center
Details 01
Momofuku Ando Center
Details 02
Momofuku Ando Center
Details 03
Momofuku Ando Center
Details 04

Kengo Kuma & Associates
T +81 3 3401 7721 F +81 3 3401 7778
Kengo Kuma & Associates
2 Chome-24-8 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062, Japan