kengo kuma tops buddhist temple in tokyo with half-cylinder aluminum tiles
the tiles cover the building's large, gently inclined roof.
located on a hillside in sennichi-dani (meaning ‘valley’ in japanese), tokyo, the new main hall for ichigyo-in temple has been designed by kengo kuma with a gently inclined roof, built out of specially extruded, half-cylinder aluminum ‘tiles’. the new building is most often viewed from above, and thus emphasis has been put on the large roof, whose deep eave protects the exterior as well as the interior, where 300mm solid cedar panels have been fixed in a board-on-batten or yamato-bari pattern.
all images by professional photo miyagawa
the ichigyo-in temple, which belongs to the jodo sect of buddhism and has a history that dates back to the edo tokugawa period, has been redesigned by kuma with the aim to develop a new form that can become the heart of the community. the new hall has been completed with an automated ossuary underground, where delicate cedar screens create a bright and transparent interior, making it easier for each repository owner to drop by and visit their ancestors. 
project info:
name: jodo shu ichigyo-in
architect: kengo kuma and associates
location: shinjuku, tokyo, japan
total floor area: 1,948.44 m2
main use: buddhist temple
project team: naoki okayama, kimio suzuki(visualization), minako izumi*(sign) *former staff
