cheungvogl: KAT ohno

architectural firm cheungvogl won the competition to design the ‘KAT-ohno’ in toyko, japan. the proposed design which is now in production seeks to rethink the concept of the everyday ‘meeting room’ converting into a space where speakers and audiences can have spontaneous and engaging dialogues free from inhibitions. following the age old adage less is more, the minimalism of cheungvogl’s architectural design seeks to take away unnecessary spatial barrier that may prevent the interaction of its users.

‘KAT-ohno’

ground floor auditorium

the ground floor features a 900 sqm outdoor auditorium ideal for encouraging the mingling of its working community during lunch breaks or between meetings and exhibitions. it cultivates the inclusion of individuals to share food, drinks, thoughts and conversations by breaking the invisible walls within the community.

interior hall for presentations and exhibitions and film screening

the primary volumes of the building are built as neutral white spaces. the white acts as an unobtrusive backdrop keeping the emphasis on the many presentations, exhibitions and lively discussion that may arise from the community hosted events.

simple structural grid allows movable walls to act as divisions between rooms, enabling more flexibility to play with the smaller volumes inside the larger white room. these configurations can easily be unfolded to accommodate both formal or more casual events.

film screening

the design is reduced down to simply having a roof above and below the main body of the building. through the atrium on the ground floor, the public can freely access the roof terrace to discover a contemplative space defined by the cityscape. from the ground, the lower volume is seen as an invisible layer, thus, giving a bit of privacy to users.

site plan

site plan

sectional view