A modern co-housing. Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma Associates
27/06/2020.
[Puerto Escondido - Oaxaca] Mexico
metalocus, JOAN MARSET
metalocus, JOAN MARSET
Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA) received this special commission from foundation founder Bosco Sodi. Japanese firm designed a coop for chickens living as new facility at the Wabi arts foundation in Puerto Escondido, on Mexico's Pacific coast in the state of Oaxaca.
Big communal areas for socialising, outdoor space for everyone, and private quarters for rest and contemplation are all conditions that could easily define contemporary co-housing.
Kengo Kuma designed the project as a protype of communal housing for the birds. Casa Wabi Coop is a chicken building that provides eggs for the foundation, a nonprofit arts center.
Big communal areas for socialising, outdoor space for everyone, and private quarters for rest and contemplation are all conditions that could easily define contemporary co-housing.
Kengo Kuma designed the project as a protype of communal housing for the birds. Casa Wabi Coop is a chicken building that provides eggs for the foundation, a nonprofit arts center.
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Edmund Sumner
Ground floor plan. Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma.
Roof plan. Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma.
Longitudinal section. Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma.
Cross section. Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma.
Casa Wabi Coop by Kengo Kuma. Photography by Sergio Lopez
Kengo Kuma conceives the chicken coop as a representation of collective housing and its relationships. To recreate the ascetic and colorless world of the distant Mexican beaches.
The wooden planks, used to make the structure and envelope of the building, were charred, method traditionally practiced in western Japan.
The result is a project with a system that allows permeability in all its surfaces, walls and roof, facilitating constant ventilation.
Japanese architect Tadao Ando completed the main structure for the arts centre in 2016, while other projects include a Guayacán nursery garden by Ambrosi Etchegaray and a brick chimney for ceramics by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach.
"It was indeed surprising to get such an unusual project commission," Ruiz added. "But the whole context of Casa Wabi, that is already in itself unusual, made us look to this project in a different way and see an interesting opportunity."
The wooden planks, used to make the structure and envelope of the building, were charred, method traditionally practiced in western Japan.
The result is a project with a system that allows permeability in all its surfaces, walls and roof, facilitating constant ventilation.
Japanese architect Tadao Ando completed the main structure for the arts centre in 2016, while other projects include a Guayacán nursery garden by Ambrosi Etchegaray and a brick chimney for ceramics by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach.
"It was indeed surprising to get such an unusual project commission," Ruiz added. "But the whole context of Casa Wabi, that is already in itself unusual, made us look to this project in a different way and see an interesting opportunity."
Project description by Kengo Kuma and Associates
We thought of conceiving this coop in a way that could relate to collective housing projects. While the sheltered space within this pavilion would be used for the general activities of the coop; the structure itself, built-up by interlocking wooden boards together, would create individual cells within for each of its inhabitants for their resting. In addition, the permeable nature of this interlocking system makes this become a well aired and shaded house.
With this interlocking system of 30mm boards we can create lattice-kind walls and roof that would be able to stand the main loads. For the horizontal loads, we tried to avoid the usual structural bracing by inserting rigid elements within each of the lattice cells. These rigid elements would locally limit the deformation of the lattice and therefore provide the overall bracing of the structure. It’s a "pixelated kind of bracing.”
More information
Architects
Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA). Lead Architect.- Javier Villar Ruiz.
Project team
Aris Kafantaris, Giacomo Sponzilli.
Collaborators
Local architect.- BAAQ, J Alfonso Quiñones and Alfonso Sodi.
Structural consulting.- Ejiri Structural Engineer.
Structural consulting.- Ejiri Structural Engineer.
Area
155 m²
Dates
11.2018
Photography
KENGO KUMA
Kengo Kuma was born in Yokohama (Kanagawa, Japan) in 1954. He studied architecture at the University of Tokyo, finishing his degree in 1979. In 1987, he opened the "Spatial Design Studio". In 1990 he founded "Kengo Kuma & Associates" and extend the study to Europe (Paris, France) in 2008. Since 1985 and until 2009, has taught as visiting professor and holder at the universities of Columbia, Keio, Illinois and Tokyo.
Main Awards:
· 2011 The Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Art Encouragement Prize for "Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum."
· 2010 Mainichi Art Award for “Nezu Museum.”
· 2009 "Decoration Officier de L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres" (France).
· 2008 Energy Performance + Architecture Award (France). Bois Magazine International Wood Architecture Award (France).
· 2002 Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award (Finland).
· 2001 Togo Murano Award for “Nakagawa-machi Bato Hiroshige Museum.”
· 1997 Architectural Institute of Japan Award for “Noh Stage in the Forest”. First Place, AIA DuPONT Benedictus Award for “Water/Glass” (USA).
Alfonso Quiñones. BAAQ’
BAAQ’. Fundado en 2011 por Alfonso Quiñones. His initial works focus on restoration and renovation projects for different developers in Mexico City.
BAAQ’ dedicates its practice to the development of housing and architectural design where he has been recognized in various publications and awards such as the Honorable Mention at the 2012 Mexican Architecture Biennial and winner of the Public Award at the AZ 2019 Awards.
In 2012 Alfonso Quiñones was invited by the architect Tadao Ando to be the local associate architect for the Casa Wabi project in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, and in 2016 he was also invited by the architect Alvaro Siza for the development of the Taller de Barro project at Casa Wabi. He recently developed, together with the architect Kengo Kuma, the design of a chicken coop with an experimental construction system.
And other hand, he has developed housing projects intervening and recovering old buildings in Mexico City. Working under the premise of renovating, preserving and adapting to new uses, buildings that have been abandoned, rejoining the urban and social dynamics of their environment.
BAAQ’ dedicates its practice to the development of housing and architectural design where he has been recognized in various publications and awards such as the Honorable Mention at the 2012 Mexican Architecture Biennial and winner of the Public Award at the AZ 2019 Awards.
In 2012 Alfonso Quiñones was invited by the architect Tadao Ando to be the local associate architect for the Casa Wabi project in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, and in 2016 he was also invited by the architect Alvaro Siza for the development of the Taller de Barro project at Casa Wabi. He recently developed, together with the architect Kengo Kuma, the design of a chicken coop with an experimental construction system.
And other hand, he has developed housing projects intervening and recovering old buildings in Mexico City. Working under the premise of renovating, preserving and adapting to new uses, buildings that have been abandoned, rejoining the urban and social dynamics of their environment.
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