KIZ architects: ueno gas kameyama office

‘ueno gas kaeyama office’ by KIZ architects, kameyama, mie prefecture, japanimage © ryota

all images courtesy of KIZ architects

japanese firm KIZ architects has created an office for a gas company that uses the principals of aperture and site orientation to create a

building-as-solar-circuit. the firm stated that a rooftop ribbon of glazing serve the dual purpose of ‘feeling the blessing of the sun’ while

creating all-day soft, diffused light throughout the interior. polycarbonate panels work with the clerestory in such a way that storey-specific

lighting is rendered unnecessary. additionally, the structure is fitted with a hatch that allows the movement of air throughout each level,

even on a windless day. openings on the first floor create a suction that naturally ventilates interiors. heating during the winter occurs by

a similar principal, albeit in reverse– heat accumulates in the upper clerestory space and is moved by a network of circulating fans.

additionally, the steel frame is clad in wood to provide extra insulation. informed by the 100-year old structure of the existing office

warehouse, the update maximizes the onsite resources and beautifully employs simple architectonics to create an architecture that is

at once responsible and aesthetically sensitive.  

void and clerestorey are used to passively cool and light the buildingimage © ryota

detail view of the steel frame and glazing image © ryota

the truss system leaves little in the way of light image © ryota

view of the ribbon of apertures and glazing image © ryota

polycarbonate panels diffuse direct sunlight 

image © ryota

image © ryota

views of the building system image © ryota

the building employs several typologies of apertures- both open-air terraces and choice windows image © ryota

image © ryota

a night view most clearly shows a ‘solar circuit’ as a network of openings 

image © ryota