“A manifesto in its own right that merges modern state-of-the-art technology with traditional artisanship” – Holcim Awards Jury

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    Project Entry 2014 Asia Pacific - High-Tech Low-Tech: Sustainable research center featuring traditional woodworking methods, Kyoto, Japan

    Street view of western façade: The wooden curtain-wall is composed by electrochromic glass, and the appearance of the façade changes according to weather conditions. The space behind the façade is a buffer zone. This space is a place of passage, or promenade inside the building, with an open stairway connected to the library. Each step is like an extension of the bookshelf as if movement was supported by culture. This is a contemporary building rooted in Japanese tradition.

The jury considers the project to be an ideal example of how to combine high-tech and low-tech construction in contemporary building practice. The structure – a manifesto in its own right – merges modern state-of-the-art technology with traditional artisanship. Bringing the “old” and the “new” together requires a specific sensibility, one based on an understanding of architecture as a form of research. While looking at history, future solutions are sought, as an approach adhering to the fundamental mandate of the institution as a research center.

Last updated: July 18, 2014 Beijing, China

The jury considers the project to be an ideal example of how to combine high-tech and low-tech construction in contemporary building practice. The structure – a manifesto in its own right – merges modern state-of-the-art technology with traditional artisanship. Bringing the “old” and the “new” together requires a specific sensibility, one based on an understanding of architecture as a form of research. While looking at history, future solutions are sought, as an approach adhering to the fundamental mandate of the institution as a research center.