Contemporary design refers to the constantly evolving design trends of today. With the power to design our built environments, architects have been experimenting with various architectural approaches. Whether that is through unconventional forms or the integration of smart technologies, BluPrint lists down Filipino architects who are defining contemporary architecture. Deo Alam Architect Deo Alrashid Alam […]
Sendagaya Community Center: A Unique Communal Facility for Locals
Community centers provide essential spaces for people to gather and connect. The Sendagaya Community Center, located in the densely populated district of Jingumae in Shibuya, Tokyo, offers a unique and welcoming environment for local residents.
Kengo Kuma & Associates, with support from P. T. Morimura & Associates and Ejiri Structural Engineers, designed the building to prioritize community over commerce. They design this community center with the needs of the town in mind. In the end, they created a spacious location that can accommodate activities and events for the townspeople.
Circular Slabs in Functionality
The most eye-catching feature of the Sendagaya Community Center is its circular design. Its unique round features stack up on each other, with slabs in between floors adding a stabilizing definition to its look.
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The circular stacks look uneven due to a combination of different factors. The lower floors occupy a larger footprint than the floors above it, each with their own balcony areas filled with plant life and greenery.
For the upper three floors, the design varies its look with the addition of large terraces. In an interesting aside, the play of volumes help break up the symmetry of the main structure. An addition expands from the main circular volume with its own terraces, providing even more room for more plant, crafting a welcoming environment for those who enter.
“The circular slabs create a generous gap between the building and the adjacent properties, allowing maximum light and wind to enter from the outside,” the architects shared.
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A Softer Space for Everyone
The interior of the building lends itself to an openness that feels welcoming. A massive atrium in the middle runs from the ground floor to the rooftop, which allows for the thorough diffusement of light. White walls, marble floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and wooden furniture combine to allow the light to bounce around the area with ease.
The circular design extends its use of wooden panels all across the building, from the atrium to the various multi-purpose rooms. These elements help create a cohesive theme for the building, but also provides a sense of flexibility and accessibility to its look and function.
The Sendagaya Community Center supplies its area with an approachable space open to everyone in the area. The design of its rooms and its open atrium accommodates a feeling of adaptability to suit the needs of everyone who lives in this community.
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Related reading: Kakapo Creek Children’s Garden: A Sustainable Blend Of Space And Nature
In the Philippines, adaptive reuse gained traction during the 1970s with the rise of conservation and environmental preservation movements. It offered an architectural solution that reuses existing spaces to fit modern needs. Across the country, several projects demonstrate how this approach is being applied—transforming heritage structures into active spaces for culture, hospitality, and community life. […]
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From residential spaces to civic structures, lighting dictates the mood of a space. It controls the visual dynamics of an interior, serving as a guiding tool that highlights key design elements, including materials and textures. Related Reading: Lampscaping: How to Light up Your Home like a Pro Regulating the Mood: Natural and Artificial Light in […]
More and more Filipinos are flocking to condominium communities. Often tucked within busy city centers, condo living acts as a small respite from urban chaos. Faced with the challenge of transforming a cramped condominium into a warm living space, BluPrint lists condo interior design ideas that can maximize each square foot of small spaces. Purposeful […]
Modern bathrooms are no longer purely functional spaces. Increasingly, they are being designed as environments that support cleanliness, ease, and quiet restoration within the home. As daily life becomes more demanding and health awareness continues to rise, homeowners are beginning to expect more from the spaces where daily rituals begin and end. For architects and […]
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From the moment a diner steps through the door, each detail shapes how a meal is experienced. Restaurant design has evolved, with architects and culinary professionals collaborating to create built spaces that are as intentional as the menu itself. The spatial atmosphere acts as an additional ingredient that can define the culinary experience. Taupe and […]
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