Studio Armitage Builds Field Shelter for Allotment Workers in Nara, Japan

Field Shelter, a demountable wooden pavilion designed by London-based Studio Armitage, has been completed in Nara's Amagatsuji neighbourhood. This structure serves as a resting area for individuals working in the nearby rice fields and allotments, addressing the need for a refuge from the intense summer sun and sudden downpours. The design emerged during the studio's time at Space Department, where they noted the fields' role as a vital social hub. Constructed from standard timber sections and battens on temporary concrete blocks, the pavilion features a polycarbonate corrugated roof. It includes two benches oriented to capture morning and evening light, along with a central water container for local use. Freddie Armitage, the studio's founder, emphasized the inspiration drawn from local agricultural buildings and the community's need for gathering spaces. The shelter is fully demountable, allowing for potential relocation or repurposing. Studio Armitage hopes it will remain beneficial to the community for years to come. Photography credits go to Studio Armitage.