KAWAMOKU
A New Local Landmark Created with a Wooden Spiral and Glass
KAWAMOKU
A New Local Landmark Created with a Wooden Spiral and Glass
To mark its 155th anniversary, the project involved rebuilding Kawamoku Construction’s headquarters. With roots as a timber merchant and a long-standing presence in Kawagoe, Saitama, the design of the new headquarters centered on three key themes: how to give form to and embody the company’s philosophy, what message to convey to the local community, and how to make use of timber. From these considerations, a concept emerged: a simple glass box with a wooden spiral core at its center. The design seeks to create an architecture that will accompany Kawamoku into the next 100 and 200 years, while becoming a new symbol of the city.
Initial Sketch
Initial Sketch of the Spiral Staircase
The initial sketch envisioned a wooden spiral core at the center of a simple glass box. By boldly positioning the iconic wooden spiral and a large atrium at the heart of the regularly shaped building, a striking spiral staircase comes into view beyond the entrance, while the atmosphere of the central core and the areas arranged on either side are gently connected through the atrium.
The glass facade enveloping the building’s perimeter serves to express the central spiral staircase and the activities within as a defining presence toward the outside.
