undulating science hills in komatsu by urban architecture office

undulating science hills in komatsu by urban architecture office
photo by daici ano
all images courtesy of urban architecture office

in komatsu, japan, urban architecture office (UAo) has designed an educational museum and communications complex entitled ‘science hills’. as its name suggests, the scheme is characterized by a series of sinuous and undulating forms, which contain a number of on-site facilities including a 3D dome theater, an industrial promotion complex and an incubation center.

a public rooftop garden spread across the upper surface both insulates the entirety of the structure and integrates the architecture of the building with the surrounding natural landscape. the flowing topography also serves as an architectural device to control light and direct rainwater for reuse as planting irrigation.

the scheme is characterized by a series of sinuous and undulating forms
photo by daici ano

the complex contains a 3D dome theater, an industrial promotion complex and an incubation center
photo by daici ano

photo by daici ano

a public rooftop garden spread across the upper surface insulates the entirety of the structure
photo by daici ano

the flowing topography also serves as an architectural device to control light
photo by daici ano

photo by daici ano

photo by daici ano

the interlocking sculptural forms
photo by daici ano

the design references the region’s undulating natural landscape
photo by daici ano

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project info:

location: komatsu, ishikawa, japan
completed: october, 2013
principal use: museum
structure: reinforced concrete
site area: 14,428.84 sqm
building area: 6,153.21 sqm
total floor area: 6,063.03 sqm
architecture: mari ito / UAo
structural engineer: kanebako structural engineers
construction: kumagai gumi + kaetu construction joint venture (architecture)
photography: daici ano