kengo kuma: nagaoka city hall aore

‘nagaoka city hall aore’ by kengo kuma, nagaoka, japanall images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

in an effort to stir civic engagement through architecture, kengo kuma‘s design for ‘nagaoka city hall aore’ firmly situates itself as an actual and aesthetic hub in the center of the city. while urban growth in the beginning of the 20th century relegated public buildings to the outer city limits, the patterned, wood battened and glazed structure combats the historical phenomena with other age-old concepts of ‘tataki’ and ‘nakadoma’, a meeting point for a community that is walking distance from most points in the city. architectonically, the space is a far cry from an austere concrete box, instead opting for an airy, warm skin of dynamically tiled wood. the ample fenestration expresses a sense of transparency while embodying the layered idea of an energetic compact city. aside from the meeting chambers of the local government, the building contains a 12,000 square meter mixed program of shops, restaurants and banks, as well as an open plaza.     

a public plaza is covered with light emitting trusses and a wooden skin all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

the structure creates shapes of light and shadow that multiply against reflective surfacesall images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

wood, metal and glass create a dynamic building envelope all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

offices, restaurants and public spaces are part of the mixed use program all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

public space and civic space layerall images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

view into a public hallall images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

interior views all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

meeting chambers continue the aesthetic all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

site plan all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

elevation all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates