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0 Architect Sou Fujimoto has revealed the design for a community centre topped with a bowl-like roof in the town of Hida, Japan.
Named the Hida Furukawa Station Eastern Development, the multi-purpose building will be located alongside the main railway station in the town in the mountainous Gifu Prefecture.
Sou Fujimoto has designed a circular multipurpose building in Hida
Sou Fujimoto Architects has designed the 21,300-square-metre building to contain shops, a spa and exhibition spaces, alongside research facilities for a local university, student accommodation and an all-weather playing field.
These various functions will be covered by a large circular roof structure that resembles the shape of a bowl, supported on slender white columns.
The roof rises towards the edge of the building
“The development is a vast landscape symbolizing Hida’s past and future, its main plaza taking the shape of a bowl, or vessel, in Japanese called utsuwa,” said the studio.
“The unique architectural space will give visitors a better awareness of the majestic nature of Hida.”
A plaza will be located at its centre
The building’s various units will be arranged around its edge, encircling a central plaza positioned where the roof dips to meet the ground.
Punctuated with numerous circular openings, the roof will double as a walkable grass-covered park.
Enclosed structures are located around the edge of the building
Established by Fujimoto in 2000, Sou Fujimoto Architects is one of Japan’s best-known architecture studios.
Along with the cultural centre, it is designing a second building in the town of Hida that also has a walkable roof and will house Hida Takayama University.
Another recent project by the studio is the House of Music in Budapest, which is topped with a large rounded roof similar to those featured in the pair of projects in Hida.
Architecture sight