Emanating from Tokyo Bay. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
23/02/2021.
[Ariake - Tokyo] Japan
metalocus, JULIO RODRÍGUEZ
metalocus, JULIO RODRÍGUEZ
The studio led by Nikken Sekkei has designed the Ariake Gymnastics Center, an impressive timber structure, which will be one of the most emblematic sports complexes that will host the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. It is located in the Ariake district in Koto, in Tokyo Bay.
The project tries to show itself as element permeable and evolutionary. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, it has been found that after the end of the Olympic Games, many of the facilities and large sports buildings ended up being disused and later demolished.
The project, however, knows how to anticipate this, it will operate in two phases: the first as a sports facility and later, after the games, as a permanent exhibition hall. It allows the same space to be renewed in use as in its concept.
The project tries to show itself as element permeable and evolutionary. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, it has been found that after the end of the Olympic Games, many of the facilities and large sports buildings ended up being disused and later demolished.
The project, however, knows how to anticipate this, it will operate in two phases: the first as a sports facility and later, after the games, as a permanent exhibition hall. It allows the same space to be renewed in use as in its concept.
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by Ken’ichi Suzuki
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by Ken’ichi Suzuki
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by Ken’ichi Suzuki
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by Ken’ichi Suzuki
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by Ken’ichi Suzuki
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei. Photograph by SS Company Limited
Seat and second floor plan. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Section. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Detail section. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
Rendering. The Ariake Gymnastics Centre by Nikken Sekkei
The Ariake Gymnastics Center designed by Nikken Sekkei shows a very light project despite its large scale. The architect himself defines it as "A wooden bowl that floats over the Bay". What is externally appreciated as a large solid piece of wood, turns out to be a very light and removable element in that marked contrast.
The building responds to a growth that evokes users to enter the project, a trapezoidal volume that emanates from the bay and grows as it rises in height, dialoguing with the dimensions of the residential neighborhood of Ariake.
A Large Wooden Space Spanning 90 Meters. A simple structure was adopted using large individual pieces of glued laminated timber with high thermal capacity, instead of trusses consisting of several small members, to achieve both fire resistance performance and structural stability.
The building responds to a growth that evokes users to enter the project, a trapezoidal volume that emanates from the bay and grows as it rises in height, dialoguing with the dimensions of the residential neighborhood of Ariake.
A Large Wooden Space Spanning 90 Meters. A simple structure was adopted using large individual pieces of glued laminated timber with high thermal capacity, instead of trusses consisting of several small members, to achieve both fire resistance performance and structural stability.
Description of project by Nikken Sekkei
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre - “A Wooden Vessel Floating in the Bay Area"
The Ariake Gymnastics Centre is designed to function in two phases; initially as a temporary international sports competition facility, then, after taking out the temporary spectator stands, it will be converted into a permanent exhibition hall. A unique feature of this facility is its extensive and generous use of timber throughout the building.
This is a positive realization of "wooded facilities" and "sustainability" announced in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic candidature file. The material was also selected to express the memory of this district which was once a timber storage pond. Based on the architectural concept of “a wooden vessel floating in the bay area," timber is used wherever possible, specifically in the roof frame structure, facade, spectator seats, exterior walls, etc. while carefully considering the characteristics of wood in each application.
The arena ceiling is supported by a wood frame designed to reduce the weight of the overall structure. The concourse space, where spectators approach the arena, is intentionally placed outdoors. The wood facade takes into account acoustic and thermal insulation properties. Function, structure, and space are tightly combined to achieve beauty and richness in simplicity, which is the essence of Japanese traditional wood architecture that we hope spectators and athletes from all over the world will experience.
Expansive Semi-Outdoor Public Space Well Suited to the Bayside Setting
The site is located in the midst of a vast, wide-open landscape along a canal. Yet the design also needed to take into account the residential environment of the medium-rise and high-rise condominium buildings in the vicinity. The horizontally long and flowing lines were achieved by keeping the building height as low as possible, reducing the overall volume and controlling the height of the eaves. By positioning the circulation concourse on the outside of the building and creating an open and broad approach space, the design attempts to avoid the impenetrable exterior typically found on large-scale sports facilities created by the monolithic walls.
Realize a Large Wooden Space Spanning 90 Meters
Lightening the weight of the structure by using wood for the roof is effective for buildings constructed on sites with poor soil conditions. In this project, we adopted a simple structure that uses single members of large glued laminated timber with high heat capacity, rather than trusses consisting of a number of small members, to achieve both fire resistance performance and structural stability. Japan’s first complex structural system using Timber Beam Strings Structure and Cantilever Trusses created a large wood-frame space that dynamically covers the arena.
More information
Architects
Design team
Concept design.- Nikken Sekkei Ltd. Developed design supervision.- Nikken Sekkei Ltd.
Collaborators
Developed design.- Shimizu Corporation. Developed design and engineering adviser.- Masao Saitoh.
Client
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Builder
Area
Site Area.- 93,400 sqm. Total floor area.- 39,194.30 sqm.
Dates
November 13th of 2019 - October 31th of 2019.
Location
Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Photography
Nikken Sekkei
Nikken Sekkei. An architecture studio where they take an integrated approach to their projects as a professional service firm. Current Nikken Sekkei Ltd President and CEO is Mr. Atsushi Omatsu. Their teams across all in-house disciplines of architectural design: urban design, research, planning and consulting, work collaboratively to deliver better solutions for clients.
They proudly work under the expression "EXPERIENCE, INTEGRATED". And today, they, as Nikken Group, can claim to have completed more than 25,000 projects, in over 250 cities, across 50 countries.
Ultimately, they know their responsibilities are increasing. They gain strength from working with clients from concept to completion, striving for meaningful results for the people and communities they touch. They have grown their firm to be future ready, so their partners and society can trust in their expertise and capabilities.
They proudly work under the expression "EXPERIENCE, INTEGRATED". And today, they, as Nikken Group, can claim to have completed more than 25,000 projects, in over 250 cities, across 50 countries.
Ultimately, they know their responsibilities are increasing. They gain strength from working with clients from concept to completion, striving for meaningful results for the people and communities they touch. They have grown their firm to be future ready, so their partners and society can trust in their expertise and capabilities.
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