KINO architects: spiralab chemical research laboratory

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KINO architects: spiralab chemical research laboratory

Jan 07, 2013

first image
'spiralab' by KINO architects, chiba, japan
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano
all images courtesy of KINO architects

japanese practice KINO architects has just completed the new 'spiralab' chemical research laboratory in chiba, japan. based on four basic
principles set by the material development corporation, the project was to communicate research efficiency, high-security, comfort, and
symbolism. in response, the architects arranged the laboratories, offices, meeting rooms, auditorium and reception area in a linear fashion
with a shared corridor running through the entire structure to service all the program, ending at the public entrances on either end. to fulfill
the symbolic requirement of 'spiralab', the linear organization was then bent into a spiral, using its horizontal and vertical layering as a way
for the architecture to not only visually represent the company, but allow it to improve the work done inside.three structural cores contain
the public and private stair wells and services that feed the different functions on each floor.

the offices and meeting rooms require a higher level of confidentiality so they are located on the second floor with their own entrance,
physically separated from the guest areas and exhibition, and the research labs on the third floor. break areas are inserted into widened
sections of the main hallway to create large light-filled social areas for researches to relax, overlooking a central courtyard. the experiment
rooms on the entry level and third storey are set up on a modular grid to allow the scientists to organize the interior partitions based on their
specific needs. the circular layering of spaces also means that the first level contains a small open mezzanine space which was used for air and
ventilation inlets and natural light for the labs. the skin is made up of a vertical lattice structure with angled members at 3º, 6º and 12º that
support the curtain wall sections and concrete panels.

second and third floors supported above the first leaving a small airspace for ventilation into the experiment rooms
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

street-side elevation
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

central courtyard provides light to all functions
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

(left) visitor entrance where the structure touches the ground
(right) air gap between the first and second floors
images © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

guest entrance under the overhang
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

angled vertical structural lattice
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

offices and meeting rooms
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

office area
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

exhibition space from visitor entrance
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

break area and security door (to the left)
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

break area and corridor
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

images © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

experimental area set up on a simple grid
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

corridor
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

structural core containing the stairs
image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

image © hiroyuki hirai, daici ano

site plan

floor plan / level 0

floor plan / level 1

floor plan / level 2

section

HVAC construction detail

elevation

program diagram

curving form diagram

skin structure diagram

structural cores

danny db

01.07.13

KINO architects (4 articles)

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KINO architects (4 articles)

KINO architects: spiralab chemical research laboratory

the research center features a lineal organization bent into an overlapping curving structure that bases (read more)

KINO architects: branch house

true to its name, the design places at its center the communal spaces while its private programs are (read more)

KINO architects: tokyo balconies

composed of four highly discernible volumes skewed off their axis, a number of pie-shaped balconies are (read more)

KINO architects: airhole house

featuring large volumetric voids on both levels, the design generates functional spaces in an organized (read more)

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