yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension

in an effort to retain parking space and stay within the building footprint limit, the office extension thickens the facade with circulation and glazing.

cat garcia menocal April 24, 2013 2 min

‘nakagawa office extension’ by yasutaka yoshimura architects, nara city, japanall images courtesy of yasutaka yoshimura architects

‘nakagawa office extension’ expands the usability of an existing building’s facade with an expanse of glazing and carefully composed vertical circulation. yasutaka yoshimura architects added the structurally separate and highly function envelope to the two year old building so as to exteriorize the main circulation of the space and add a washroom, kitchen and new entrance, all while remaining well within the building footprint limitation and preserving parking space. by thickening the architecture of the facade, the building creates ample room for the wholesaler client’s numerous shelves and storage units as well as two-tiered stair and platform system. rust-stained concrete and the duct system of the structure is left exposed towards the interior of the pristine new space. the light-filled hall also creates new gathering areas and allows natural illumination to pervade the enclosed space.

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 1 view of the junction between the existing building and the extension

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 2 the thickened facade is fitted with the main circulation

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 3 the rust-marked original facade contrasts with the pristine stair and wall

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 4 view up toward the platform addition

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 5 the extension’s cladding is characterized by a language of slats

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 6 second floor views

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 7 (left): reframed entrance(right): the sunlit hall created new meeting spaces

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 8 view from the existing building toward the exit ramp

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 9 dusk light caught in the functional facade

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 10 second floor views of workspace

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 11 light shines through the facade and into the shelf / workspace

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 12 exterior shows how the design strategy conserves parking space

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 13 the facade is made highly functional

yasutaka yoshimura architects: nakagawa office extension - 14 night view shows the exteriorized main circulation

project info:

location : nara city, japanprincipal use : officecategory : additionstructure : steel, 2 storiescompletion date : sep/2012site area : 677.10q.mbuilding area : 374.34sq.mtotal floor area : 698.06sq.mmax. height : 9,346mmclient : nakagawa masashichi shotenstructural engineer : mitsuda structural consultantsmep : kankyo engineeringgeneral contractor : shibutani