naruse inokuma architects transforms traditional dwelling into 'teshima 8 million lab'

on the japanese island of teshima, naruse inokuma architects has helped transform a traditional dwelling into a vibrant arts complex. located on the same island as the ryue nishizawa-designed teshima art museum, and in close proximity to many of ando’s masterpieces, ‘teshima 8 million lab’ was completed for the setouchi triennale in 2016 and houses the permanent exhibition space of sputniko!, a japanese-british artist.

image by nobutada omote (also main image)

in developing designs for ‘teshima 8 million lab’ naruse inokuma architects sought to find new possibilities through art and technology. working closely with sputniko!, the design team incorporated a construction method that has resulted in expansive, column-free spaces. ‘we sliced the columns that fell into the space midway and stretched a steel beam across the space so that these columns would ‘float’ in space,’ explain the architects.

image by kenta hasegawa

as its name suggests, ‘teshima 8 million lab’ is a kind of laboratory that resonates with the ambiguity of sputniko!’s work. the approach to the building is lined with torii gates and a place to hang ema (votive tablets), while views open up towards mt. danyama, the mountain that towers over central teshima.

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

image by kenta hasegawa

floor plan / level 0

section

axonometric drawing detailing the structure

diagram showing the site before/after the intervention

project info:

title: teshima 8 million lab
architecture firm: naruse inokuma architects
client: fukutake foundation
artist: sputniko!
architecture: naruse inokuma architects
structure: jun sato structural engineer
facility: GN
landscape: unittane
sign: mina tabei
construction: kishimoto construction