Nikken Sekkei's Copper Canopy Micro-Landmark Opens in Machida

Nikken Sekkei has completed Hatmachida, a 22.7-sqm community hub in Machida, Tokyo, featuring an eight-meter-high copper roof. The project, developed with Machida City and the Machida Community Development Corporation, emerged from social experiments in 2021 and 2022. Its roof uses the traditional ichimonji-buki standing-seam technique, while the ceiling comprises 2,923 individually shaped plywood panels. Four functions—information, takeout, shop, and spot—support local commerce and community interaction. The structure occupies an ambiguous position between roadway, architecture, and plaza, aiming to transform a car-oriented boulevard into a civic space. Photographs by Shota Hiyoshi and Nikken Sekkei document the project.