Temple

We designed a new Main Hall for Ichigyo-in Temple in Sennichi-dani (meaning “valley” in Japanese), Tokyo. Ichigyo-in belongs to the Jodo sect of Buddhism and its history dates back to the Edo Tokugawa period.

Housenji Temple plays an important role as a center of local community. Our concept was to enhance its spiritual place for the locals and at the same time create pleasant environment to city. For an existing building, we stabilized the structure with seismic retrofit system to resist earthquakes.

Jetavana Buddhist temple is a house of the Buddha who has reached nirvana, and for the religious seeking to reach nirvana. Two years ago, a monk with a slender body and an intelligent look, came to our office. With very concise and neat remarks, he told us that he was planning to build a Buddhist temple for meditation.

The space of the assembly is defined by a folded roof that emerges in the integration of two sections, where the first suggests a congregation space with a more horizontal access ratio that invites entry, and then, once inside, a space that rises towards the presbytery where a section of vertical proportions is developed, emphasizing the relationship between heaven and earth.

The space of the assembly is defined by a folded roof that emerges in the integration of two sections, where the first suggests a congregation space with a more horizontal access ratio that invites entry, and then, once inside, a space that rises towards the presbytery where a section of vertical proportions is developed, emphasizing the relationship between heaven and earth.

Home for God on Earth…! An unusual typology that seldom appears in the portfolio of any architectural practice. Temple plays a crucial role in the socio-cultural and spiritual life of the human. Amidst a low rise housing community of a small village, the temple serves as an affordable and accessible asset for simple local people and remains an integral part of the local life system. Old temple structure was in a dilapidated state and thus arrive the need to build the new one. The new structure is set on the existing plinth and its rustic charm is maintained through the use of local stone that holds it all together.