Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA), the architecture firm that has designed the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium, directed by Kengo Kuma, presents one of its latest projects "Morinos", a forestry training school in Gifu prefecture, at north of Nagoya city in Japan.

The building, which has been carefully developed in all its constructive aspects to serve as a teaching model on sustainability, houses educational programs and workshops that teach students about the importance of forests and wildlife.
The building, carefully designed by Kengo Kuma in collaboration with the Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture, has become a model for the sustainable management of forest resources. Constructively, the column structure in a V-shaped configuration was executed with from 100-year-old Japanese cypress trees that were cut down by students and used in combination with cedar planks.

The Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture, is an educational institution established to provide practical multidisciplinary education in the fields of forestry and wood utilization, environmental education, wooden architecture, and woodwork.
 

Project description by Kengo Kuma

This is a facility for education programs to teach the multifaceted functions of forests.

Workshops are repeatedly held with students of the academy under the lean-to roof with a large overhang which is supported by logs cut down from the forest in a V-shaped configuration, creating a very open space.

One-hundred year old Japanese cypress logs in the research forest adjoining the academy were cut down by students majoring in Forestry studies, and used in combination with cedar planks that still have the bark on for the doorjambs and mullion for the openings. Therefore, the materials themselves are used in the design to teach forestry education.

Earth from the site and earth from Gifu Prefecture were applied to the symbolic walls by Syuhei Hasado, a plasterer from the prefecture, in a process that resembles a 12-layered ceremonial kimono.

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Architects
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Kengo Kuma and Associates (KKAA). Architect.- Kengo Kuma.
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Project team
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Architect.- Hironori Nagai.

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Collaborators
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Daina Architect Co (Design and supervision); Miyake Design Co., Ltd. (design).
Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture (Design and supervision).- Mitsutaka Tsuji, Takumi Matsui, Katsuhiko Ohara, 17th quarter students: Sakata, Oue.
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Contractor
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Sawazaki Kensetsu Co.
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Area
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129,04 m².
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Dates
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Design.- February 2017 - March 2019.
Completed.- April 2019 - March 2020.
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Location
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88 Sodai, Mino, Gifu 501-3714, Japan.
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Photography
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Kenya Chiba. Studio Any Ltd Matsushima.
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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 extended the study to Europe (Paris, France) in 2008. Since 1985 and until 2009, has taught as a visiting professor and holder at the universities of Columbia, Keio, Illinois and Tokyo.

Notable projects include Japan National Stadium (2019), V&A Dundee (2019), Odunpazari Modern Art Museum (2019), and The Suntory Museum of Art (2007).

Kengo Kuma proposes architecture that opens up new relationships between nature, technology, and human beings. His major publications include Zen Shigoto(The complete works, Daiwa S hobo)Ten Sen Men (“point, line, plane”, IwanamiShoten), Makeru Kenchiku (Architecture of Defeat, Iwanami Shoten), Shizen na Kenchiku(Natural Architecture, Iwanami Shinsho), Chii sana Kenchiku (Small Architecture, IwanamiShinsho) and many others.

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).

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Published on: August 20, 2021
Cite: "Morinos, a sustainability model. Academy of Forest Science and Culture by Kengo Kuma " METALOCUS. Accessed
<https://www.metalocus.es/en/news/morinos-a-sustainability-model-academy-forest-science-and-culture-kengo-kuma> ISSN 1139-6415
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