Tomoaki Uno's new office and events space in Japan’s Aichi Prefecture offers a way through the woods
The Meito Arts Association Office, designed by Tomoaki Uno, a 62-year-old Japanese architect, is unlike any other workplace. To enter it, you are forced to bend down, then squeeze through a circular hole cut into the middle of a large cement block. When you’ve straightened up, you are suddenly confronted by large tree trunks towering over you from floor to ceiling. One of them is slightly out of line.
Uno works intuitively, in a way that is unusual for an architect. The son of a plasterer, he grew up surrounded by craftspeople: ‘Artisans can’t really hide behind their work. The end result will tell you all you need to know about them.’ He is distrustful of fancy words. He never produces architectural models or renders either.
Uno recruited his long-term trusted collaborator, Yasutoshi Sakurai, to oversee the construction process. ‘Mr Sakurai is a gardener, so he is in a profession that is deeply in tune with nature,’ says Uno. Each tree trunk, procured from a timber yard in Yoshino, a mountainous region south of Nara for 80,000 yen, roughly £500, each, was lifted upright using ropes, then fixed into the compacted recycled cement debris covering the entire floor space, averaging 30cm in depth.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Japan forced to send self-destruct command to rocket after failed launchThe H3 rocket cost £1.22 billion to develop and is Japan's first new series in more than 22 years. It was carrying an Advanced Land Observation Satellite, which primarily observes Earth and collects data for disaster response and map making.
Read more »
South Korea has a plan to end its forced-labour feud with JapanAmerica hopes it will solidify a united front against China
Read more »
Japan forced to destroy flagship H3 rocket in failed launchThe rocket's failure to launch is a significant blow to the country's space plans.
Read more »
South Korea moves to resolve WWII dispute with JapanSouth Korea moves to resolve WWII dispute with Japan that troubles tech supply chains
Read more »
The female mayor in Tokyo fighting Japan's sexist attitudesIn a country with just two women in its cabinet, Satoko Kishimoto is trying to change the culture.
Read more »
PS5 marks biggest ever month in Japan, with sales up over 450% | VGCThe PlayStation 5 has enjoyed its biggest-ever month in Japan. The console was February’s biggest hardware in the country, shifting 366,982 units according to Famitsu, with the Nintendo Switch coming in at 221,041.
Read more »