kengo kuma encloses this underground student center with a stepping green roof

the student center beneath a descending green roof

kengo kuma & associates creates a new entrance to the tokyo institute of technology, dubbed ‘hisao & hiroko taki plaza.’ the space takes shape as a ‘platform’ of descending steps and interstitial gardens and functions as a center to house student activity. the design team expresses a respect for the context, and maintains clear views of a clocktower — a campus landmark. to achieve this, the structure is mostly embedded into the ground so as to avoid an overly vertical condition.

above the level of the ground plane, the structure is experienced as a ‘roof‘ comprised of stepped bleachers and greenery. here, the architecture introduces a dialogue with the slanted green wall of the library nearby, resulting in an in-between ‘green valley’ which invites life and activity for students.

images © ︎ kawasumi ・ kobayashi kenji photograph office

kengo kuma’s built landscape at tokyo institute of technology

kengo kuma & associates (see more here) designs its hisao & hiroko taki plaza at the tokyo institute of technology to integrate the campus into the space. the team notes that ‘the line between the interior space and exterior landscape is blurred by continuing the stepped landscape into the building.’ this condition promotes such activities as co-learning and collaborative workshops, which can all be held simultaneously along different levels of the building. the built space fluidly transitions with ambiguous spatial divisions. as the design team notes, ‘stimulating the senses of the users both visually and physically.’

beginning the design in section

in the design of its tokyo institute of technology plaza, the team at kengo kuma works within a site with many complex conditions. the design was first informed by an overall sectional profile of the roof, followed by the stranded steps of the fanned-out bleachers. the team comments: ‘this resulted in a roof silhouette that resembles the landscape of a river delta that spills into by exposing the twisted structure that supports the roof, the interior space yields a certain fluidity. two architectural landscapes were created, the exterior and interior landscapes, relating to each other in a resonating harmony.’

the building is embedding underground to maintain a low stance

the stepped roof fluidly transitions into seating elements

kengo kuma & associates characterizes is plaza as a ‘green valley’

fanning bleachers are integrated with gardens

the multi-level building allows a range of student activities to be held at once

the plaza creates a new topography for the tokyo institute of technology

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project info:

project title: hisao & hiroko taki plaza
architecture: kengo kuma & associates | @kkaa_official
location: tokyo institute of technology, tokyo, japan
project team: toshiki meijo, keita watanabe, kosuke tanaka, shiho yoo, fumiya kaneko
structure design: kanebako structural engineers
MEP / facility design: ptmorimura & associates, ltd
construction: kajima corporation, daiei denki, hibiya engineering
built area: 4,880 square meters
photography: © ︎ kawasumi ・ kobayashi kenji photograph office