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Kengo Kuma wraps alumni building in Tokyo with irregular metal surface creating organic skin
Japan Architecture News - Oct 24, 2019 - 12:36 14542 views
Kengo Kuma and Associates has completed an alumni building at the Ochanomizu University campus in Tokyo, Japan. Named Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza, the new 2,335-square-metre building will house new activities for graduates and form a base for the university's cross-cultural and alumni activities.
Kuma, who is known for his strong materialistic approach by using local wood and other materials in an innovative way, his materialistic precision, once more, emerges from the natural surrounding in this site: trees were the major reference for its organic facade configuration that wraps the existing buildings as well.
"For Ochanomizu University, the new Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza is expected to be a symbol for their cross-cultural and alumni activities," said Kengo Kuma and Associates.
"We preserved ample space for the greenery surrounding the site on campus, arranging the building between tall trees. As a result, the plan and section are atypical," the firm added.
The studio wrapped their irregular surface with expanded aluminum metal, which generated a flowing, organic-form. As the expanded metal is coarse, it reflects and responds to changing light through the seasons, sometimes it suggests solidity and other times sheer transparency.
"We thought the gentle, ambiguous features of the building, which dissolve into the trees would further enhance communication among multinational students and scholars," continued the studio.
The building was officially opened to use in March this year.
Kengo Kuma and Associates recently completed the Odunpazari Modern Museum (OMM) in Eskişehir, Turkey, the museum is comprised of a cluster of multi-leveled wooden boxes and houses a bright and spacious new home for the 1,000-piece collection of modern and contemporary art owned by architect and businessman Erol Tabanca.
Exclusive interview about the OMM will be available soon on World Architecture Community.
Kuma is also working on the expansion of the Portugal Gulbenkian Foundation. The V&A Dundee Museum in Scotland is one of the major projects of Kengo Kuma opened last year.
Project facts
Project name: Hisao & Hiroko Taki Plaza
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Date: 2019.03
Size: 2335.04 m2
Type: University
Project team: Toshiki Meijo, Tomohiro Sato, Fumiki Sugawara(CG), Shiho Yoo(Sign).
All images © Keishin Horikoshi / SS Tokyo