Atelier Bnk Co., Ltd.

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai

MAKOMANAI CHURCH, UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN JAPAN

Atelier BNK

ARCHITECTS
Atelier Bnk

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Urban Structural Engineers

PHOTOGRAPHS
Koji Sakai

AREA
384 m²

YEAR
2014

LOCATION
Sapporo, Japan

CATEGORY
Church

Text description provided by architect.

This project involved the remodeling of a church founded 50 years ago. Located in a suburb of Sapporo, the church stands in a residential area near the Olympic Memorial Park, facing a tree-lined avenue.

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai

The church runs a kindergarten, with which it shares the site. The lot is not square and has little leeway in terms of space. This remodeling plan required us to maximize the church space in order to achieve openness, while retaining the original functions of the church.

The new building was placed parallel to the buildings and borders surrounding the site maximize the area available.

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai

The chapel is surrounded by rooms, in which various activities are held, and the rooms can be seen through the openings, rendering a sense of openness to the church.

The rooms around the chapel are made by dividing up the area formed between the rectangular-shaped chapel and the outer walls.

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai

These rooms are furnished with openings according to the function of the room, making each area distinct in relation to its surroundings while providing each room with unique “feel”.

In the chapel area, which forms a 1:1.2 ratio plane, all four sides are treated equally without emphasizing any wall or any direction. The chapel is designed to be filled with light from above.

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai

Through the deep light wells set at various angles, the chapel is lit by sunlight as it changes angle day by day throughout the year. The light wells also help produce echoes and serve as a buffer zone for heat.

The angle of the top light is set at 45 degrees in order to let the snow slide from the roof. The valley gutters, forming a series of triangles, are large enough to accommodate substantial snowfalls.

The bottom of the valley gutters, which exist to provide structural rigidity and enable the large openings in the roof, and the level surface at the top of the chapel form the facade, along with the layered stories.

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai

The impression given by the facade is reinforced by the planes in harmony with the surroundings, by the eaves that greets visitors, and by the sheet metal work on each of the layers.

The church embodies the rationality of the environment surrounding this particular place and aims to make an impression by its very existence, leading greater openness to a greater number of people. 

Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai

As you move into the church, the light from above the chapel, sometimes strong, sometimes soft, shines evenly on every person.


Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
© Koji Sakai


Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
Section
Makomanai Church, United Church of Christ in Japan
Plan

Atelier Bnk Co., Ltd.
T +81 1 12091881 F +81 1 12091777
Atelier Bnk Co., Ltd.
Sapporo Factory 2-Jo Kan 4F, Kita 2-Jo Higashi 4-Chome, Chuo-Ku, Sapporo,Hokkaido 060-0032, Japan