©Kengo Kuma & Associates

Japan 2011Café Kureon

2011.3
Toyama
Retail/Cafe/Restaurant
Completed
197
1F

We wanted to create a building like a forest by piling up pieces of wood, rather than joining them together. The element we chose was an ordinary and affordable rectangular timber sectioned in 105mm. Without giving any special treatment to the wood, we sought to realize an organic space like a forest, simply by accumulating the timbers. The idea of making an organic and fluid space with small and light materials has been developed through our past projects, such as GC Prostho Museum Research center or Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum. Since the timber is free of special treatment, it can easily go back to its initial state when the building needs to be disassembled and moved. This method takes full advantage of the flexibility of the wooden structure, which is not possible in concrete. As detail, steel rod in 30mmφvertically goes through the accumulated timbers. On top of the timbers, folded (bent) plates are placed as the roof, a simple and inexpensive method that is also convenient for disassembling and moving.

Team Eishi Sakamoto, Taku Nishikawa* Construction Shoei Sangyo Cooperation Ejiri Structural Engineers Facility Shoei Sangyo Award 2012 Restaurant & Bar Design Award International Winners (Asia)