Kengo Kuma Presents a Creative Co-Working and Cafe Facility in the Heart of Okayama
With CLT panels fitted throughout.
Earlier in springtime, Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) completed a new creative co-working space and cafe in Kibichuo. Entitled Kibi Kogen N Square, the facility is erected in the center of the Okayama Prefecture, a region in the west of Japan that is known for its blend of historic and natural beauty.
Spanning 585 square meters and two floors, the building is fitted with CLT(Cross Laminated Timber) panels throughout. Okayama is also known to be the biggest manufacturer of CLT panels, adding an extra layer of meaning to the building.
According to KKAA’s description of the projection, the panels have been stacked at varying angles through the site, where they also emphasized the “angular misalignment” of the panels creating “a variety of spaces and openings in between.” This creates a sense of openness in the facility, where sunlight naturally illuminates the spaces through its ample skylight windows as well as floor-to-ceiling windows at both ends of the building. At night, the inbuilt ceiling fixture exudes a warm glow that pervades and lights up the open interiors, creating a harmonious tone with its wooden structures.
Kibi Kogen N Square marks a different approach to the usual CLT-heavy structures, which often give off the impression of being closed-off and boring. An official statement from the KKAA architectural group further highlights that this building “represents the spirit of the facility’s theme of openness and collaboration within the local community, including the participation of local Okayama University in the co-working space,” and that “Through these spaces, a crossover of activities that transcend generations and industry-academia boundaries are to be expected.”
Take a look around Kibi Kogen N Square in the gallery above.
