Kengo Kuma and Associates renovates an office building with a rigid-frame RC structure to strengthen its quake resistance using carbon fiber, and transforms the interior into a museum called 'Fab Labo'. Komatsu Seiren Fabric laboratory fa-bo is a space to display the technology of Komatsu Seiren, the client company.

Drawing from a technique of braiding ropes in this region, it became possible to add further flexibility to the carbon fiber. The project presents a tasseled view focusing on specific materiality with the new facade design. For Fab Labo, it is not just a simple cover coat for the buildings, it is also an investigation of new materials how they should be implemented in case of environmental conditions. 

image © Takumi Ota

The fiber rod is said to be ten times stronger than iron, and this is the very first time that this material was used as a means of reinforcement against earthquakes. The potential of this light and soft fiber is explored inside the building as well. There is a lighting duct in fiber and on the rooftop, an experimental greening is being conducted using porous ceramic panels (called Greenbiz), which was generated from the process of producing fiber.

image © Takumi Ota

image © Takumi Ota

image © Takumi Ota

image © Shinkenchiku

image ©Kengo Kuma and Associates

image ©Kengo Kuma and Associates

image ©Kengo Kuma and Associates

Project Facts

Location: Ishikawa, Japan
Date: 2013.8-2015.11
Service: Office, Exhibition space
Area: 2,873.42m2 

Top Image © Takumi Ota

> via Kengo Kuma and Associates