Amakusa Mixed-use Complex “Kokorasu”

This facility integrates the functions of a library, health center, and community center. The aim was to create a space where these functions could be used together through a spacious garden in the center of the site. Part of the garden rises, connecting to the library on the second floor. By creating a configuration where the undulating garden and the linear architecture complement each other, the aim was to create an outward-looking and inclusive common space, like a promenade.
The entire facility is covered by four generously shaped roofs. By staggering the roofs, the cross-sectional configuration allows for natural light from the north and breezes from Mt. Juman to enter through the gaps. The wooden roofs are constructed using standardized lumber from Amakusa in an approximate catenary shape, achieving a large-span, open space without the use of laminated timber.