Sign up for an Award
Participate with your entry in one of our professional or student awards.
Sign up for an awardLearn more:
Unsupported browser
You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.
A 100-year-old traditional wooden house was rebuilt into a kindergarten playroom. The existing building suffered various issues, such as aging, humidity, and deficiencies in earthquake resistance. Reinforcing the structure and creating earthquake-resistant walls would make it difficult to create a large space for a playroom. The architects found a workaround by simply reducing the building's weight and using only its framework. The placement of an outer steel frame around the older building also solved the humidity problem and issues related to its age. The large space in the traditional wooden house nestled inside a steel building creates a remarkable space where children can flourish.
Matsuzaki Kindergarten
Hofu, Japan
SHIGERU AOKI Architect & Associates
Fukuoka, Japan