atelier BNK curves concrete cultural center in hokkaido, japan

atelier BNK curves concrete cultural center in hokkaido, japan
image © koji sakai

the japanese firm atelier BNK has designed the hakodate jomon cultural center in hakodate city, hokkaido. the building is also a roadside service station where facilities for souvenir purchasing, parking, toilets and information has been integrated carefully with the museum. however, the main attraction is the museum itself where it houses a permanent exhibition displaying clay and metal instruments from the jomon period and the hollow clay figure ‘chuku-dogu’, a treasured artifact unique to hokkaido. the distinctive curved structure lies in-between a major bypass and the kakinoshima ruins; a barrier between the old and the new. the gentle, curvilinear nature and the material used for the building has been influenced by the jomon period where the smooth walls is composed of cedar planks and exposed concrete of varying thicknesses. 

exterior facing the bypass
image © koji sakai

exposed concrete wall finished with cedar boards from hokkaido
image © koji sakai

lounge area
image © koji sakai

exhibition space displaying artifacts from the jomon period
image © koji sakai

walls wrapped in cedar
image © koji sakai

exhibition room
image © koji sakai

hokkaido’s national tresure: chuku dogu, a clay hollow figure
image © koji sakai

corridor where you can see the kakinoshima ruins on the other side
image © koji sakai