kazuya morita builds wooden lattice frame structure for archive library in kyoto

kazuya morita design office has built a two-story wooden lattice structure in kyoto, designed to house the asada archives library. reflecting the library’s collection, which focuses on human rights and the support of socially repressed people, the building is made out of inexpensive 9-cm-square cypress wood, which is usually considered too weak and small to be used in constructions.

all images by table tsunei

through the multiple layers of overlapping wood in the thick lattice frame, kazuya morita design office has created a strong visual identity for the library. each 9-cm piece of cypress square wood used has a length of only 3 to 4 meters, and to avoid a cross-sectional loss of material, the architects have chosen to use long screws to fix them together instead of using the traditional lapping method. contrasting the the wooden lattice frame, the building’s concrete foundation provides support for the entire structure while acting as thermal storage, stabilizing the temperature of the indoor environment and minimizing energy consumption.

the earth walls of the library follow the traditional japanese machiya (town house) and store house architecture, complete with a bamboo base and charred wood covers, which, all together, act as fire barriers and elements to control humidity inside. the central part of the building incorporates the reading room, which is enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass to allow plenty of natural light in and create a connection with the street outside.