KIAS Designs Kawamura Electric Headquarters in Nagoya with Brick and GRC Facade
In Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio (KIAS) has finalized the construction of the Kawamura Electric headquarters. This seven-story structure incorporates office spaces, an art gallery, and a multipurpose hall designed for 110 individuals. The building's exterior showcases two distinct material systems: a lower section adorned with textured bricks sourced from Hekinan and an upper section enveloped in glass-fiber reinforced concrete (GRC). The GRC lattice helps regulate solar heat and incorporates the window system, while the brick facade exhibits dimensional differences. A seven-story atrium enhances natural ventilation and links the offices to the cafeteria. Additionally, a vertical garden by Patrick Blanc boasts over 180 plant species. The project team comprises Kentaro Ishida, Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd., and others. The site covers 808.90 sqm, with a total floor area of 3,068.44 sqm.
Key facts
- KIAS designed the Kawamura Electric headquarters in central Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
- The seven-story building includes offices, an art gallery, and a multipurpose hall for approximately 110 people.
- The lower street-facing volume is clad in rough, heavily textured bricks manufactured in Hekinan, while the upper volume is wrapped in a fine grid of GRC (glass-fiber reinforced concrete).
- The GRC lattice moderates solar gain and incorporates the window system within its depth.
- The brick facade features bricks in three different lengths, with mortar joints recessed by 2 mm and approximately one in every four bricks randomly projecting by 4 mm.
- A seven-story atrium with a twelve-meter-long vertical garden designed by Patrick Blanc contains more than 180 plant species.
- Artworks by Yojiro Imasaka, Takuro Kuwata, and Hirosuke Yabe are incorporated throughout the building.
- The project team includes Kentaro Ishida and Satoshi Iiyama (design team), Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. (executive architect and main contractor), Nomura Co., Ltd. (interior contractor), Ryokuensha Inc. (green wall contractor), Building Structure Institute (structural consulting), and ZO Consulting Engineers (air flow simulation).
Entities
Artists
- Kentaro Ishida
- Satoshi Iiyama
- Patrick Blanc
- Yojiro Imasaka
- Takuro Kuwata
- Hirosuke Yabe
- Daici Ano
- Christina Vergopoulou
Institutions
- Kawamura Electric Inc.
- Kentaro Ishida Architects Studio (KIAS)
- Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd.
- Nomura Co., Ltd.
- Ryokuensha Inc.
- Building Structure Institute
- ZO Consulting Engineers
- designboom
Locations
- Nagoya
- Japan
- Aichi Prefecture
- Seto
- Hekinan