Responding to the Landscape

Wazuka Town in Kyoto Prefecture is renowned for its tea production. Nestled in a valley along the Wazuka River, the town is surrounded by mountains whose slopes are covered with lush tea fields. Especially striking is the mountain adjacent to the east side of the site, where the entire hillside is blanketed in tea plantations—an overwhelming and unforgettable view. The architecture of this facility is deeply shaped by the question: How should we respond to such a powerful landscape?

This new building serves multiple community functions. It combines a public hall and meeting rooms (like a traditional community center), with offices for the town’s welfare department, the local social welfare council, a medical clinic, and a public health center. In recent years, many public buildings constructed during Japan’s period of rapid economic growth have reached the end of their lifespan. In response to population decline, municipalities are increasingly consolidating multiple public services into single, multipurpose facilities. This project follows that trend.

When combining such diverse functions under one roof, it is critical that the shared spaces do more than simply connect different areas. These spaces must also foster a sense of belonging and community for the town’s residents. Architecture plays an essential role in shaping these in-between zones into welcoming public spaces.

In this project, the various functions are arranged within a two-story volume. At the heart of the building is a central atrium space called the ima (meaning “living room” in Japanese). This double-height space features a large opening on its eastern side—11 meters wide and 8 meters high—framing the expansive view of the tea fields on the mountainside. A wide central staircase runs through the atrium, allowing people to experience the scenery as they move between floors.

The building uses a hybrid structure of reinforced concrete (RC) and steel. Three RC core walls provide lateral stability, while the steel frame, designed to carry only vertical loads, gives the overall structure a light and open feel. The RC elements are externally insulated, allowing for thermal mass to stabilize indoor temperatures throughout the seasons.

Because the site lies within a designated flood risk zone, disaster preparedness is also a key consideration. Watertight doors and shutters have been installed on openings in the RC structure housing the clinic on the first floor, protecting it from potential flooding. This ensures that the clinic can continue to operate and serve the community even in the aftermath of a disaster. Meanwhile, the public hall—designed as a temporary evacuation site—is located safely on the second floor.