Kouunji Kyakuden Holo Yolandira Alendo ya Kachisi by Hiroaki Iwasa

Kouunji Kyakuden Holo Yolandira Alendo ya Kachisi by Hiroaki Iwasa is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award in Mapangidwe a Nyumba, Zomanga ndi Zomangidwa Competition Category.

BronzeZomangamanga· 2025

Kouunji Kyakuden Holo Yolandira Alendo ya Kachisi

by Hiroaki Iwasa

Client: Hiroaki Iwasa Architects Workshop

Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award Winner in Zomangamanga Category

16,630

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #162806

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Kouunji Kyakuden Holo Yolandira Alendo ya Kachisi

Pulojekitiyi inali yakumanganso holo yolandira alendo yazaka 140, yomwe inali imodzi mwa malo a kachisi wa Chibudist wa Kouunji. Holo yakale yolandira alendo inali ikukondedwa ndi anthu akuderali kwa nthawi yaitali; komabe, chifukwa cha kuwonongeka kwake kwakukulu m'kupita kwa zaka, inafunikira kumangiridwa mwatsopano. Womanga mapulaniyu anathetsa mavutowa mwa kukonza ndi kugwirizanitsa, ndiponso kupanga njira zina zopitiritsira chikumbutso cha anthu akuderali ku m'badwo wotsatira. Chotsatira chake, holo yatsopano yolandira alendo sinangofikira chikhumbo cha zam'mbuyo kokha komanso kukhalapo mu nkhani ya mbiri.

The Recognition

About the Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award

Kouunji Kyakuden Holo Yolandira Alendo ya Kachisi ndi mmodzi mwa opambana a Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award, kuzindikirika kolemekezeka kwambiri komwe kumaperekedwa kwa mapangidwe abwino kwambiri omwe amaonekera ndi luso lolenga, kuchenjera ndi nzeru zakuthwa. Opambana a Bronze ndi zinthu zaluso kwambiri ndi zolenga modabwitsa zomwe zimatsimikizira zochitika zazikulu, kulingalira ndi kuchenjera kwa opanga awo. Kouunji Kyakuden Holo Yolandira Alendo ya Kachisi akuyembekezeka kukhala chinthu choyamikiridwa, chosirira ndi chokondedwa, chaukatswiri wapadera ndi chatsopano. Mapangidwe opambana Mphoto ya Bronze ya A' Design Award awa amaphatikiza machitidwe abwino kwambiri a luso, sayansi, kapangidwe ndi ukadaulo ndipo ndi abwino kwambiri chifukwa cha kusamala kwawo zazing'ono. Kouunji Kyakuden Holo Yolandira Alendo ya Kachisi amakwaniritsa zosowa mokongola, kukhudza zilakolako, kukopa mitima ndi kudzutsa chidwi.

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