ninkipen! completes gallery for veneer company with deep overhangs in yao, japan

ninkipen! has completed a gallery for a veneer manufacturing company located in yao city, osaka prefecture, japan, with deeply overhangs that provide a shaded transitional boundary between outside and in. the project offers a display space in the form of a ‘plywood landscape’ for the company’s veneer products, collected from mountains all over the world. the building features a wooden roof truss construction, while its outer walls feature a plaster material mixed with scraps of discarded veneer from various tree species.all images by hiroki kawata

ninkipen! has established an open courtyard between the gallery and the company’s existing warehouse, while the deep overhangs of the building’s roof provide a shaded transitional space. the roof is lifted higher on the north side of the gallery to accommodate a long skylight that captures soft natural light. at the same time, the extended eaves on the south side block direct sunlight while giving an arrow-like form to the building that draws attention to the courtyard.

the gallery is surrounded by the extended eaves on all sides, resembling a hat that sits on top of the building. ninkipen! has defined their depth and height according to the trail of a forklift that passes underneath. the façade on the south side, which looks towards the courtyard, comprises a series of sliding glass doors that seamlessly connect the gallery to the surrounding landscape.  

project info:

architect: ninkipen!

main use: gallery

location: yao, osaka, japan

size: 225.37 m²