hiroshi nakamura & NAP builds kamikatz public house in japan

in kamikatsu, a town in japan’s tokushima prefecture, hiroshi nakamura & NAP have constructed a pub and micro brewery using recycled materials. kamikatsu, which has a population of around 1,500 people, is a ‘zero waste’ town, which has already attained an 80% recycling rate by sorting refuse into 34 separate categories. inspired by these principles, a private business contacted the architects with view to designing a community hub that sells household supplies, food, and beer.

the pub and micro brewery has been constructed using recycled materials
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc. (also main image)

hiroshi nakamura & NAP sought to design a building that the community could be proud of. as the word ‘pub’ comes from ‘public house,’ the architects wanted to make the scheme as accessible and as open as possible. soaring eight meters into the air, the building’s most eye-catching façade is made from windows sourced from abandoned houses. the double layer of window fittings also traps air and enhances the structure’s insulative qualities. oriented to face the town, this elevation stands as a local landmark and as a symbol of pride for the community.

the project is located in a ‘zero waste’ town called kamikatsu
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

internally, the spaces are laid out in chronological order — from the storage warehouse to the brewery, and then to the pub where the beer is served. restored and converted furniture has been acquired from domestic and industrial sources, while a ceiling fan circulates warmth from the carbon-neutral radiation heater. abandoned items from a tile factory were used for flooring, empty bottles have been re-purposed as a chandelier, and newspaper has a second life as wallpaper. colored with naturally produced tannin paint, cedar board wood waste was used to clad the building.

the building’s eye-catching façade is made from windows sourced from abandoned houses
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

though reusing, reducing, and recycling, the public house not only conserves energy and resources, but also serves to promote kamikatsu and its regional economy. perhaps most importantly, the scheme stands as an embodiment of the town’s zero waste vision. ‘the locals who gather at this pub are beginning to truly realize that their actions are fun and creative,’ explain the architects.

cedar board wood waste was used to clad the building
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

the spaces are laid out in chronological order — from the storage warehouse to the brewery
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

restored and converted furniture has been acquired from domestic and industrial sources
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

empty bottles have been re-purposed as a chandelier
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

through reusing, reducing, and recycling, the brewery conserves energy and resources
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

the project stands as an embodiment of the town’s zero waste vision
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

the double layer of window fittings traps air and enhances the building’s insulative qualities
image by koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.

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hiroshi nakamura NAP architects kamikatz public house micro brewery japan designboom

project info:

principal use: pub and micro brewery
structure: timber  
total floor area: 115 sqm / 1,238 sqf 
building site: kamikatsu, tokushima, japan 
structure design: yamada noriaki  structural design office  
contractor: daiso co.,ltd
 produce: transit general office 
furniture design: wrap 
photography: koji fujii / nacasa and partners inc.