Kumano Kodou Center | 2003.10

熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
熊野古道センター Kumano Kodou Center
Site
Location: Kumano Kodou, Japan

Building
Use:Pavillion 
Floor Area: 2,400m2
T shrine of the watermark / watermark of the shrine
Two areas which vaguely intersect and overlap

“Ground” returns to the original shape of the slope where the “Figure” refers to the elongated buildings 
which are placed and covering part of the contour line. The part of the building is pulled by the force of 
the two areas while bending throughout the areas with the sharp angular part pierce through the slopes. 
This is used as the video hall. The approach along the channel of the stone pavement leads to a single footpath 
which connects and brings people to the rice field on the upper level. The building is divided into two parts 
with a 3.6m wide slit in between the building and the scenery behind it penetrates to the front of the building. 
While going up and looking back from the channel, the cut-out cityscape of Owase will be seen from the distant 
view and then, visitors will be taken to the entrance under the eaves.

Entering and turning left from the space under the eaves, the entrance of the connected area between the information 
transmission and the exchange function will be seen while conversely turning right, going down the slope, 
it will lead to the entrance of the exhibition space and further down to the library space down the stairs. 
This space from under the eaves and the slope allows visitors to have eyesight locked on to the thick forest 
across the valley and feel the confrontation with nature. However, if visitors take a walk from the slope to 
the valley path, the flowing stream will be seen and eventually, the path reaches a small waterfall. It leads to 
the integration between the interaction and the overlap with nature. The researcher zone, such as the library space, 
uses the height difference of the site to provide an aboveground floor with good views and daylight. In addition, 
the handicaps will be using this slope or the slope in front of the workshop to access the building. It is possible 
to approach by car up to the front of the slope.

In the space of the center, two wooden frames with one-sided roofs overlap and mix while being elongated continuously. 
Under the eaves, the scenery of the cut-out mountain and the view of the sea are visually impressive and appealing. 
The two frames gradually shift and the distortion of the roofs becomes the high side light while bringing the light 
and scenery into the building. At the same time, the merging parts of the frames swell like a band inside the building 
and become a flow line like a road surrounded by trees. Combining together with the floor which goes up and down 
according to corrugation ground, the continuously changing space is created. Although, it will be a large-scale wooden 
building, the slit above the channel will divide the building into large parts. In addition, the researcher zone under 
the storage space is equipped with a fireproof structure also, in the video hall and the attached toilet nested under 
the large roof, a fireproof structure is forming while at the same time, independent evacuation routes will be secured 
and implemented a 1000㎡ section.