Shinpukuji-Temple Reception Hall

Shinpuku-ji temple is located close to Chushin-ji temple.
In contrast to the main temple hall, which was built on the east-west axis, this new reception hall was conceived with a frontal aspect that completely incorporated the axis line and sightline from the south approach. By re-emphasizing the north-south axis, I wanted to create an arrangement of buildings based on the perpendicular intersection of the two axes.
The most important function of this building is the large hall. There was a need for a large space that would accommodate 130 parishioners. The irregular form of the D-shaped lot necessitated that the hall be placed in the center. Several small rooms, such as a reception room for priests, a waiting room for the head priest, a kitchen, an administrative office, and a warehouse, were built on the periphery to fit the shape of the lot. The sloped corridor following the curve of the D served as a barrier-free route to the main hall.
A large RC roof would cover the entire lot. The peripheral rooms serve as quake-resistant elements, and the large hall in the center provides a large space without columns. Raising the roof was also a structural advantage. The hip-and-gable volume rises up from the thin roof. I had the image of the volume gracefully rising out of a white cloth. Seemingly acting in concert with the surrounding mountains, and giving the big and small ridges of the hips and gables an unbroken appearance, the RC roof forms a continuous line with the main hall. The long, extended veranda was intended to be used as an extension of the entrance for large gatherings of people. Since it’s sunny there, I imagined that it would normally function like a cafe that was open to the surrounding area. Moreover, the illumination makes it look even more as if the roof is floating up in the air.

photos by Takumi Ota