Where the Soul Sleeps Columbaru by Shunsuke Ohe

Where the Soul Sleeps Columbaru by Shunsuke Ohe is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 A' Design Award di Bronzu in Disignu d'Architettura Competition Category.

BronzuArchitettura· 2025

Where the Soul Sleeps Columbaru

by Shunsuke Ohe

Client: Shunsuke Ohe

A' Design Award di Bronzu Winner in Architettura Category

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Verified Award Winner

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Colors

The Design

About Where the Soul Sleeps Columbaru

Un columbaru attaccatu à un tempiu. Hè statu cuncipitu è custruitu cù rispettu per e tradizioni giappunese, eriddendu i disegni è e tecniche tradiziunale giappunese. A prima cosa chì si vede quandu si entra in l'edificiu hè u munumentu simbolicu ellitticu cù una superficia curva tridimensiunale. Hè illuminatu da riflettori installati nant'à u sufittu è u pavimentu. Un altru puntu di rilievo hè u sufittu à cassettoni di legnu, chì hè dotatu d'illuminazione indiretta chì emette luce versu u sufittu da tutti i quattru lati. Incorpora ancu elementi muderni, facendu un disignu chì mischja u vechju è u novu.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award di Bronzu

Where the Soul Sleeps Columbaru hè un vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Bronzu, una ricunniscenza assai prestigiosa attribuita à i disegni eccellenti chì si distinguenu per a creatività, l'ingegnu è l'acutezza. I vincitori di Bronzu sò artefatti largamente abili è sorprendentemente creativi chì autenticanu a vasta sperienza, l'imaginazione è l'ingegnosità di i so disegnatori. Si aspetta chì Where the Soul Sleeps Columbaru sia un oggettu assai apprezzatu, ammiratu è caru, rimarchevulemente prufessiunale è innuvatore. Stu disegnu vincitore di u premiu A' Design Award di Bronzu incorpora e migliori pratiche di l'arte, di a scienza, di u disegnu è di a tecnulugia è hè eccellente per l'attinzione à i detaglii. Where the Soul Sleeps Columbaru suddisfa splendidamente i bisogni, tocca i disideri, incanta i sentimenti è chjama a curiusità.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Not only traditional construction methods and materials are used, but also modern ones are combined. Roof tiles are originally made of clay and cement, but in this project they are made of resin, which makes them lighter and more durable. This is a very important point in Japan, where earthquakes are common. I would also like to point out that fire resistance has also been improved. While reflecting traditional elements that have been passed down in Japan for a long time, the performance of the building itself has been greatly improved.
Dimensions & Packaging: Site area : 295.90 sqm / Total floor area : 104.72 sqm / Category : Columbarium
Tags: Japanese-style architecture , Plaster , Coffered ceiling , monument , Storehouse-style building , LUSTYdesign , Shunsuke Ohe
Production Technology: Exterior finish // roof : Plastic roof tile / eaves : Stained Wood / Exterior walls : Plaster , Stained Wood / Floor : Porcelain tile , Natural Stone
Interior finish // Ceiling : cloth , Natural wood / Wall : cloth / Floor : Porcelain tile , carpet
Design Challenge: It can be seen that the design was created with respect for traditional Japanese architectural styles and with sincerity to bring comfort to the hearts of the dead and visitors. It makes you realize that it is not enough for an architect to simply design a building in a self-centered and rational way; what is important is the feeling with which he designs it.
Research: The columbarium is a place where you can reunite with loved ones who have departed for the afterlife. Here, you can always reunite with your loved ones. The fantastical production inside the building makes you think so.
Perhaps you can communicate with the dead here.
Every aspect of the interior, including the ceiling height, finishing materials, colors and patterns, dimensions of each part, and lighting plan, has been carefully and meticulously designed.
Inspiration: This project is the construction of a columbarium attached to a temple. The building is designed based on traditional Japanese architectural style, but with a modern essence. Respecting Japanese tradition, designs and techniques handed down since ancient times are used in even the smallest details inside and outside the building.
Project Duration: Project Duration : From August 2022 to December 2023
Project location : Osaka(Japan)
Operation Flow: Although the design appears traditional at first glance, it also incorporates modern elements. When you enter the building, the first thing that catches your eye is the semi-elliptical monument. Spotlights shine from the ceiling and floor, creating a beautiful world with diffused light. It is as if a barrier separates the world of the living from the world of the dead. Visitors are soothed by the sight. The ceiling is a dynamic coffered ceiling, and indirect lighting is lit around it, gently illuminating the space with a high-quality feel.
Image Credits: Photograph : HIROSHI TANIGAWA by ToLoLo studio