Bubbletecture H in Sayo-cho, Hyogo, Japan by Shuhei Endo

The client requested that all people who will visit this place including the inhabitants of Hyogo prefecture, improves the interest for global environmental concerns and be able to experience various approaches as the place of environmental study.

The site is on the steep slope of the north side in the forest. After integrating all functions that the client requested at the design term into three, required area and volume were set according to the function and structure. The two functions were arranged in parallel on flat land (old town road was there) that had remained at a high level in the site, and another was arranged having floated from the slope at the same level of other two

The form of the building shows the rational shape that connects these three functions for plane and section.Japanese cypress thinning wood log that is used for superstructure is provided with the intention of realizing the light structure as well as standardizing and improving the work efficiency of the timber using, and to fix the amount of CO2 emission. The weather resistance steel board of 1.2mm thickness is used for outside roof and wall finish. This steel board shows the characteristic that doesn’t rust any more after stabilizing process of the initial rust.

Architects: Shuhei Endo
Project team: Kengo Sasamoto, Aya Umemoto
Design year: 2005-2006
Construction year: 2006-2008
Principal use: Institution and exhibition of earth environmental