kengo kuma's community center contains an undulating playroom

kengo kuma’s community center in aomori contains an undulating playroom
image © kenta hasegawa
all images courtesy of kengo kuma and associates

in the japanese city of aomori, architect kengo kuma has completed a wooden community center that contains an undulating children’s playroom. designed to appear integrated within the neighboring townscape, the project features a jagged roofline that breaks up the building’s relatively large scale. external façades are clad with wainscot paneling with interstitial spaces revealing the activity inside. internally, the children’s playroom is joined by a cooking studio and a tatami room – all organized around a central foyer that connects the scheme.

the scheme contains an undulating children’s playroom
image © kenta hasegawa

the children’s playroom is joined by a cooking studio and a tatami room
image © kenta hasegawa

a central foyer connects the entirety community center
image © kenta hasegawa

external façades are clad with wainscot paneling
image © kenta hasegawa

a jagged roofline breaks up the building’s relatively large scale
image © kenta hasegawa

project info:

location: aomori, japan
completed: january, 2015
use: plaza for social communication
area: 1,800 sqm
photography: kenta hasegawa