Kouunji Kyakuden Sala tar-Riċeviment ta' Tempju by Hiroaki Iwasa

Kouunji Kyakuden Sala tar-Riċeviment ta' Tempju by Hiroaki Iwasa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż in Disinn tal-Arkitettura, Bini u Strutturi Competition Category.

BronżArkitettura· 2025

Kouunji Kyakuden Sala tar-Riċeviment ta' Tempju

by Hiroaki Iwasa

Client: Hiroaki Iwasa Architects Workshop

Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż Winner in Arkitettura Category

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The Design

About Kouunji Kyakuden Sala tar-Riċeviment ta' Tempju

Il-proġett kien rikostruzzjoni tas-sala tar-riċeviment li kellha 140 sena, li kienet waħda mill-faċilitajiet tat-tempju Buddist Kouunji. Is-sala tar-riċeviment antika kienet imħobbija mill-komunità lokali għal żmien twil; madankollu, minħabba l-ħsara gravi tagħha matul is-snin, kellha bżonn tiġi rikostruita. L-arkitett ssolva dawn il-problemi billi aġġorna u armonizza, u żviluppa wkoll xi sistemi biex jgħaddi l-memorja tal-komunità lokali lill-ġenerazzjoni li jmiss. Bħala riżultat, is-sala tar-riċeviment il-ġdida ma kisbitx biss sens ta' nostalġija iżda wkoll preżenza fil-kuntest storiku.

The Recognition

About the Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż

Kouunji Kyakuden Sala tar-Riċeviment ta' Tempju huwa rebbieħ tal-Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż, rikonoxximent prestiġjuż ħafna mogħti lil disinji eċċellenti ddistingwuti mill-kreattività, l-ingenwità u l-għaqal. Ir-rebbieħa tal-Bronż huma xogħlijiet bi ħila biżżejjed u kreattivi b'mod impressjonanti li jawtentikaw l-esperjenza vasta, l-immaġinazzjoni u l-ħila ta' riżorsi tad-disinjaturi tagħhom. Huwa mistenni li Kouunji Kyakuden Sala tar-Riċeviment ta' Tempju ikun oġġett imqabbar ħafna, mammirat u maħbub, notevolment professjonali u innovattiv. Dan id-disinn rebbieħ tal-Bronż jinkorporaw l-aħjar prattiki fl-arti, ix-xjenza, id-disinn u t-teknoloġija u huwa eċċellenti fl-attenzjoni għad-dettalji. Kouunji Kyakuden Sala tar-Riċeviment ta' Tempju jissodisfa l-ħtiġijiet b'mod eċċellenti, imiss ix-xewqat, jinċanta s-sentimenti u jattira l-kurżità.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

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

Unique Properties: This project was the reconstruction of the reception hall of a Buddhist temple passed 140 years. The old reception hall had been loved by the local community for long time, but it was beyond the scope of repair. Therefore architect took on various creative challenges. He aimed to solve these issues by updating it to modern functions, harmonizing it with other facilities, and devising some mechanisms to pass on the memory of local society to the next generation. As a result, this architecture was able to achieve not a sense of nostalgia but also a presence for the future.
Dimensions & Packaging: Specification,
Scale/ Wooden two-story building,
Structure/ Timber frame structure,
Site Area/ 3039.15 Square meter,
Building Area/ 277.26 Square meter,
Total Floor Area/ 323.77 Square meter,
Tags: temple, reception hall, reused, minimal philosophy, local landscape, passing on the memories, historical context, local community
Production Technology: This project had a clear floor plan with each function directly connected around the entrance hall, but there were many difficult construction tasks in some places. Ground reinforcement and strong foundation construction for soft ground, woodwork including special joints to structurally reuse old materials, fabrication of delicate and movable cedar lattices, and the revival of forgotten traditional natural paints "Kumezo". This project was realized through thoughtful design and exceptional craftsmanship.
Design Challenge: Various choices and challenges were made to pass on the memory of the local community. By choosing a common wooden house construction method rather than the traditional temple construction method, they were able to shorten the construction period, reduce construction costs, and as the result have time to repair and reuse old materials. The exterior has a roof shape unique to the region, and the walls and window lattices are finished with local cedar wood and with a revived traditional natural paint "Kumezo". As a result, this architecture achieved a special harmony and presence.
Research: Type of Research: About the relationship between Kouunji and the local area.
Methodology: History, landscape and topography research, annual event research, monk behavior research, and interviews with local residents,
Conclusion: Kouunji is the core of the local community that people have visited since childhood for events and daily life. The architect concluded that in addition to modernizing the function of the ceremony hall and harmonizing it with other facilities, it was essential to create a mechanism to pass on the memory of the local community to the next generation.
Inspiration: Researching the old reception hall and the landscape and history of the area provided architect with important inspiration. In particular, the old reception hall was tilted due to the soft ground, but it was discovered that some of the main structures, such as beams and columns, were valuable materials that are currently unavailable, and could be reused if repaired. And new architecture was important not only for its shape in the landscape, but also for its presence within the historical context.
Project Duration: The project started in February 2002 and was completed in November 2004 in Tsukubamirai City, Ibaraki Prefecture.
Operation Flow: Kouunji is an essential presence for the region.
Because the parishioners of Kouunji are local residents and their relatives, and annual events and celebrations and condolences are mainly held for the parishioners. The reception hall, located to the side of the main hall, functions in conjunction with the main hall during events, and is used for religious ceremonies, waiting areas, dinners using the kitchen function, and a meeting place. It also functions as an emergency temporary evacuation center in the event of a disaster. There is also a temple office that oversees them.
Image Credits: Photographer Kozo Takayama