koseki architect office: connect

'connect' by koseki architect office in kyoto, japan
all images courtesy koseki architect office
image © toshihide kajiwara


'connect' by japanese practice koseki architect office is a two-storey extension project to
a pre-existing nursery school in fushimi ku, kyoto, japan. breaking free from the closed-box structure
of the old facilities, the design is devoid of internal walls to promote maximum flexibility and
to cater to a wide range of activities for the children.



exterior view
image © toshihide kajiwara


featuring an outdoor wood terrace that partially wraps around the footprint of the structure,
a large collection of floor-to-ceiling windows connect the interior with the exterior. the form
of a staircase becomes the focus of the facade by adding dynamic angles to the low-lying elevation.
the classrooms within are able to fully open up to the outdoors by sliding glass panels.



outdoor terraces
image © toshihide kajiwara


by extending the layout in both horizontal and vertical directions, a three-dimensional loop
was created. the light-filled classrooms connect the space as one, encouraging group learning
activities for the students. by adopting a new spatial framework, the architecture facilitates
a new method of usage and functions.



outdoor space
image © toshihide kajiwara



looking into the interior
image © toshihide kajiwara



interior view
image © toshihide kajiwara



images © toshihide kajiwara



stairway
image © toshihide kajiwara



image © toshihide kajiwara



image © toshihide kajiwara



image © toshihide kajiwara



night view
image © toshihide kajiwara



elevation at night
image © toshihide kajiwara