‘looptecture f’ by endo shuhei architect institute in minamiawaji-city, japan all images courtesy endo shuhei architect institute photographer: yoshiharu matsumura

osaka-based practice endo shuhei architect institute has completed ‘looptecture f’, a two-storey tsunami disaster preventive control center in minamiawaji-city, japan. conceived with the additional function of a temporary refuge in mind, the overall structure and form of the project seeks to disperse maximum stress caused by a tsunami by lacking any planar surfaces.

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F view from the water

resembling a strip of ribbon coiling in on itself, the center features a cluster of circular volumes that intersect over eachother. the facade’s finish is coppery and industrial, referencing the palette of the port which it overlooks. to gain as many diverse sightlines towards the water and floodgates, a series of circular windows circumscribe the surface of the building.

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F exterior view

the main floor of the center is elevated in order to remain safe from a potential tsunami. the roof features an outdoor living terrace that can be accessed through a spiral staircase that wraps around a core structure.

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F roof level

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F interior view

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F staircase

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F entrance

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Faerial view

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F floor plan / level 0 (1) entrance (2) hall (3) piloti (4) centre control room (5) exhibition room (6) disaster learning room (7) men’s lavatory (8) ladies’ lavatory (9) machinery room (10) EV

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F floor plan / level +1 (1) entrance (2) hall (3) piloti (4) centre control room (5) exhibition room (6) disaster learning room (7) men’s lavatory (8) ladies’ lavatory (9) machinery room (10) EV  

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F floor plan / level +2 (1) entrance (2) hall (3) piloti (4) centre control room (5) exhibition room (6) disaster learning room (7) men’s lavatory (8) ladies’ lavatory (9) machinery room (10) EV

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Fsection a-a

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Fsection b-b

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Fsection c-c

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture F section d-d

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Feast elevation

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Fwest elevation

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Fnorth elevation

endo shuhei architect institute: looptecture Fsouth elevation

project info:

site area: 8, 502 m2 building area: 310 m2 total floor area: 376 m2 structural system: steel storeys: 2

structure: hirokazu toki, S3 associates / ichiro hashimoto, hiroyuki kamijima landscape: takeda planning and design office / shiro takeda, yukako iwata