overlapping roofs top kengo kuma's reconstructed city hall in tsunami prone ishigaki island

Kengo Kuma reconstructs City Hall in Ishigaki island, Japan

Renowned architectural firm Kengo Kuma Associates has completed the reconstruction of City Hall on Ishigaki Island, which is located within a tsunami inundation zone. The Japanese architects moved the building to higher ground and opted for a new design that reflects the lush natural landscape of the region. The new structure is topped by overlapping tile roofs that echo elements of traditional landscapes while bringing an intriguing contemporary architectural element to the area.

The project has received the Good Design Award 2022 in the category ‘Construction/space design for public facility’. 

the Ishigaki City Hall was reconstructed on higher ground

all images ©︎ 吉田誠 (Makoto Yoshida), Kawasumi-Kobayashi Kenji Photograph Office

drawing from traditional roofs of okinawa

The architects’ goal was to revive the landscape of Ishigaki, which is composed of layers of traditional red stucco roofs surrounded by lush greenery. As traditional Okinawan roof tiles covered in plaster are disappearing because plaster is easily damaged, the team decided to recreate the pattern of traditional red and white tiles by using a white glaze to create an edge on each tile. By using modern technology, they tried to restore traditional landscapes.

The design was inspired by the settlement pattern of Ishigaki, where villages are formed at the intersections of rows of houses. ‘We arranged various functions along an east-west and a north-south axis, creating a street open to the community. This street will be extended outside of the city hall, allowing a new town to be connected to the surrounding greenery.‘ shares the team at Kengo Kuma Associates (find more here). The New Ishigaki City Hall is designed as a ‘Citizen Plaza,’ which becomes the intersection of social activities, welcoming people into a familiar, traditionally inspired environment.

aerial view of the new city hall and its overlapping roof system

the team decided to recreate the pattern of red and white tiles

the overlapping tile roofs reflect elements of traditional landscapes

white glaze was used to create an edge on each tile

the workspaces within the new city hall

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project info: 

name: Ishigaki City Hall
architects: Kengo Kuma Associates

design team: Kenji Miyahara, Naoki Okayama, Kanna Matsuo, Takumi Kozuki, Yoo Shiho, Junlin Chen, Shoki An
construction: TAISEI/ DAIYONE/ KUROSHIMA Specified Construction JV
cooperation: Ejiri Structural Engineers
facility: P.T.Morimura & Associates
accumulation: Futaba Quantity Surveyors
exterior: PLACEMEDIA, Landscape Architects Collaborative
others: Sugama Architect
photography: 吉田誠 (Makoto Yoshida), Kawasumi-Kobayashi Kenji Photograph Office