Honmachi Community Center
On the north side of Kōshū Kaidō, in a human-scaled downtown neighborhood imbued with the atmosphere of the Shōwa era, we designed a multi-purpose public building that combines community amenities, sports facilities, and childcare centers as a nucleus for local interaction.
Seeking harmony and dialogue with the narrow, intimate front street and the surrounding residential fabric, the façade is defined by a wooden eave whose sectional profile subtly changes along its length.
Unlike conventional box-shaped public buildings, this eave casts a gentle shadow, while an opening carved at its center connects the town with the sports ground beyond. This maneuver breaks down what might otherwise become an overly long and imposing public façade, functioning like a magnet that draws people into the facility.
All functions, including the nursery school, open onto these voids and express their presence outward. Along the alley, a variety of façades line the street, recreating the lively atmosphere of a traditional downtown neighborhood.
