The French School of Asian Studies – École Française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) – holds an extensive library housed in a new building in Kyoto. The narrow site is surrounded by neighboring buildings on three sides. Equipped with the most advanced technological features (electrochromic glass, ecological glasswool insulation, geothermal heat storage, solar panels, etc.), the structure offers a prime example of sustainable development in modern construction. At the same time, time-honored Japanese woodworking methods were deployed, allowing the building to be erected rapidly.

Read project feature in 4th Holcim Awards 2014/2015 (flip-book)

Manuel Tardits of Mikan in Yokohama views the key point of his team’s Acknowledgement prize-winning project is the careful balance between traditional construction techniques and state-of-the-art materials. “High-Tech Low-Tech: Sustainable research center featuring traditional woodworking methods” in Kyoto, Japan is equipped with the most advanced technological features, the structure offers a prime example of sustainable development in modern construction, and concurrently, time-honored Japanese woodworking methods were deployed, allowing the building to be erected rapidly. 

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The winning projects of the Holcim Awards 2014 Asia Pacific show how building with sustainable construction in mind can enhance the region’s human, natural and economic performance. A bird sanctuary in Thailand, a locally-adapted orphanage in Nepal, and a community library in Sri Lanka received the top prizes.

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.

The French School of Asian Studies – École Française d’Extrême-Orient (EFEO) – holds an extensive library housed in a new building in Kyoto. The narrow site is surrounded by neighboring buildings on three sides. Equipped with the most advanced technological features (electrochromic glass, ecological glass-wool insulation, geothermal heat storage, solar panels, etc.), the structure offers a prime example of sustainable development in modern construction. At the same time, time-honored Japanese woodworking methods were deployed, allowing the building to be erected rapidly.